2024 AFE Scholarship recipients | American Floral Endowment
Over the last six decades, the American Floral Endowment (AFE) has invested more than $20 million into the industry through internships, scholarships, education, and research to help support the next generation of floriculture leaders.
With a commitment to education, AFE provides more academic scholarships in floriculture than any other organization, helping to alleviate the financial burden of higher learning and proactively strengthening the industry well into the future. This year, through the generosity of donors, AFE provided $67,600 in scholarships – nearly $10,000 more than the year before. In 2024, 24 students from universities in the U.S. and Canada were awarded scholarships. This year, AFE received 106 applications reviewed and scored by 60 industry member volunteers.
Please congratulate the following members of AFE’s Scholarship Class of 2024. Learn more about these future industry leaders and what these scholarships mean to them.
2024 Scholarship Awards and Recipients
Patrick Veazie
School: North Carolina State University – Horticulture
Scholarship: Richard T. Meister Scholarship – $4,400
Patrick Veazie, winner of the Richard T. Meister Scholarship | American Floral Endowment
Patrick Veazie of Kannapolis, NC, is a graduate student at North Carolina State University, where he is obtaining his Ph.D. in horticulture. Veazie’s primary focus is greenhouse extension related to plant nutrition, soilless substrates, and plant growth regulators. He plans to become a grower specialist, providing technical support to growers within the floriculture and greenhouse crop industries.
“Thank you to the contributors of the American Floral Endowment scholarship program who continue to support the next generation of industry members,” says Veazie. “This scholarship will allow me to continue to follow my passion for creating technical extension resources for greenhouse growers.”
About the Richard T. Meister Scholarship:
Dick Meister built a family business in publishing for specialized growers in commercial horticulture. He is a strong supporter of the land-grant college system and, through the years, worked closely with many horticultural and floricultural leaders. This scholarship is dedicated to the outstanding accomplishments of those in university extension, and especially to Will Carlson in floriculture. The Meister scholarship is open to graduate students in floriculture intending to pursue their career in the land-grant university system with an interest in research, extension, or teaching.
Alexandra Cseri
School: University of Rhode Island – Plant Science, and Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Scholarship: Garcia Family Scholarship – $3,400
Alexandra Cseri, winner of the Garcia Family Scholarship | American Floral Endowment
Alexandra Cseri of New Hope, PA, is a senior at the University of Rhode Island studying plant science. She will be a teaching assistant for field botany and taxonomy in her final year of college. Her future plans include focusing on marketing and distribution in the floral industry to develop sustainable packaging solutions and strengthen the efficiency of the floral supply chain.
“This scholarship not only supports my plant science education at the University of Rhode Island but also ignites my passion to pursue a career in the floral industry,” says Cseri. “I hope to make the most of this opportunity and invest it in my future and my future impacts in the horticultural field.”
About the Garcia Family Scholarship:
The Garcia Family Scholarship Fund is intended for students attending a two-year college or juniors or seniors attending a four-year institution with a career focus on the marketing or distribution of floral products, including retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and/or floral business ownership/operations. The Garcia Family has proudly served the floral industry since 1965. Owned by the Garcia family, Garcia Group, Inc. operates six different divisions: Floral-Pak Company; Plus One Imports; Garcia Group Glass—Floraglas and G3 brand products; Vase D’Lite and Premium Wood Picks. All are represented exclusively by the Pete Garcia Company.
Cienna Tonini
School: Colorado State University – Floriculture
Scholarship: John Carew Memorial Scholarship – $2,200
Cienna Tonini, winner of the John Carew Memorial Scholarship | American Floral Endowment
Cienna Tonini of Fort Collins, CO, is a graduate student at Colorado State University, obtaining her master’s degree in floriculture. Following her education, Tonini plans to own a retail and wholesale greenhouse, producing edible and medicinal plant species. She is also considering a career in educating at the college level about sustainable horticulture.
“I am truly grateful to be awarded this scholarship because it will greatly support my college funds and future business savings, leading me one step closer to my dream. I am very thankful to my donors and am honored to be recognized.”
About the John Carew Memorial Scholarship
John Carew, former head of the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, dedicated his career to encouraging and guiding young horticulturists. He was instrumental in establishing Bedding Plants International (BPI) in 1969. The Carew scholarship is open to graduate students in horticulture with an interest in greenhouse crops.
Information on the rest of the Scholarship Class of 2024 can be found on the American Floral Endowment website.
AFE awards scholarships annually, and applications are due by May 1 of each year. Descriptions of available scholarships and application instructions can be found at endowment.org/scholarships.
