Joshua Dick, the 2025 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year (L) and Haley Kost, the 2025 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Honorable Mention (R). | American Floral Endowment
Each year, one rising star in the horticulture and plant sciences fields is recognized as the Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year for his or her exceptional performance during internships provided by the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program administered through the American Floral Endowment (AFE). The 2025 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year is Joshua Dick of Coventry, RI.
As the winner, Josh will receive travel funds as needed and paid registration from the Vic & Margaret Ball Fund to attend Cultivate’25. Joshua will also receive free registration to the convention provided by AmericanHort as well as $500 spending cash awarded by AFE’s Young Professionals Council, a photo opportunity with AFE representatives and faculty members, and articles in AFE publications and trade press. As this year’s Intern of the Year winner, Joshua will also have the opportunity to serve on the review committee for the 2026 Paul Thomas selection.
In addition to the annual winner of the award, outstanding interns are also recognized and rewarded as honorable mentions. Haley Heflin Kost of San Diego, CA, a student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, has been named the 2025 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Honorable Mention. She will receive $250 for her recognition.
“We are extremely proud of both Joshua and Haley for their accomplishments, dedication, and hard work during their internships. These two individuals exemplify the spirit of horticulture that carries on the legacy of Vic and Margaret Ball and Dr. Paul Thomas and their tremendous generosity and passion for the industry,” says Debi Chedester, CAE, Executive Director of AFE. “We are excited to watch Joshua and Haley grow in the industry and follow along on their journeys with them.”
About The Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year Award
This annual award pays tribute to the late Dr. Paul Thomas, a retired University of Georgia Professor, a passionate supporter of student programs, and an advocate of AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program. Recipients of this award truly embody the passion Dr. Thomas displayed for student programs and keep his spirit alive by pursuing industry opportunities. Students who have successfully completed a three-, four-, or six-month Vic & Margaret Ball internship are eligible for the award.
Joshua Dick – 2025 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year
The world of floriculture has always been of interest to Joshua. It is a way to express himself creatively, he notes, whether that be working in the landscaping at his parent’s home or crafting a design for an annual container from scratch.
“The result of working with plants is very grounding, and I have found it to be very therapeutic,” he says.
But a fear of losing interest should he choose to build a career in the industry led Joshua down a different path. He spent his first year of college as a freshman at Northern Vermont University studying atmospheric sciences. It didn’t take long, however, before he realized horticulture was already in his veins.
“I saw that the college was lacking a lot of garden design and spaces. I created my own gardening club during the fall semester and successfully recruited other students to form and work on this new club,” says Joshua. Those efforts resulted in planting spring bulbs, hosting “Paint and Plant” nights, and a tree planting initiative on campus. He found ways, both large and small, to bring the spirit of horticulture to the campus.
By the end of his first year, it was clear that he wanted to pivot back to his passion. Joshua transferred to the University of Rhode Island where he would go on to graduate with a degree in Plant Science. During his college years, he worked at several jobs, including at Hattoy’s Nursery, Landscaping, and Garden Center where his responsibilities included wrapping plants in foil, creating arrangements of potted plants for specific orders and mixed containers, and growing on annuals in the greenhouse from plugs.
At his job, he developed a strong interest in annual and perennial production as a whole. His favorite annuals to work with are lantana, and his favorite perennials are heuchera/coral bells. For shrubs, he enjoys hydrangeas. Still, he wasn’t only interested in working with the plants himself but in sharing his interest with others. While in college, he created the social media YouTube channel, Joshua’s Garden, where he documents his projects at work, at home, and while in school.
Later in his academic career, Joshua spent from January to July 2024 across the country at his internship with Tagawa Greenhouses of Brighton, CO. It was the chance he had hoped for – an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and experience that would serve him in his post-academic career. He was hoping to make connections and work with those in the industry who could guide him in the right direction and help him find his niche. Those six months, he says, were a time to learn valuable lessons about the industry. But even more so, the internship gave him a glimpse of his place in the field.
“I was encouraged and given the opportunity to tackle some really difficult tasks and learn not only the challenges in floriculture but also in real life,” Joshua says. “I was challenged physically and mentally, learned a lot of myself and how I handle situations, and grew tremendously as an individual.”
Upon his graduation in December 2024, Joshua was offered a position at Tagawa where he currently works full-time.
Joshua says he is extremely grateful and humbled for the recognition he has received as the Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year.
“Receiving this award means a lot to me, knowing all of the hard work I put into this internship,” he says. “It is extremely rewarding to be recognized for that hard work, especially knowing that I was alongside some other incredible interns who also taught me a lot from their own perspectives.”
For additional information on the internship program, the recipient, and honorable mentions, please read the original article hosted on the AFE website.