Sidney B. Meadows 2026 scholarships increased to $2,500 each

The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund Board of Directors has approved the 2026 scholarship awards to be increased to $2,500 each, an increase from the previous $2,000.

The fund projects awarding 12 scholarships totaling $30,000 this year.

Qualifications include:

• Be currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate ornamental horticulture program or related discipline at a four-year college-level institution in the U.S.
• Be an undergraduate junior or senior or a graduate student.
• Ba resident of one of 16 southeastern states.

Additional eligibility requirements can be found here.

The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund also partners with the Horticultural Research Institute — the research, scholarship and leadership development affiliate of AmericanHort — on a common application, allowing students to apply for multiple scholarship programs at once and mitigate the time-consuming application process.

The 2026 Sidney B. Meadows scholarship applications will be accepted through May 31, 2026. Apply here.

Previous award recipients can apply for a second award (for a maximum of two awards).

For questions about the scholarships or requirements, contact info@sbmsef.org or 678-813-1880. 

Since it was created in 1989 by the Southern Nursery Association, the fund has awarded over $670,000 to students.

The scholarship is dedicated to the late horticultural leader Sidney B. Meadows, an avid supporter of student scholarships who believed that providing aid for students was the most important way to ensure the growth and development of all facets of the industry.

For information on donating and establishing a named fund, click here, call 678-813-1880 or email info@sbmsef.org.