Logo courtesy of Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund
The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Fund, created in 1989 by the Southern Nursery Association, has announced the names of 12 students from seven Southeastern universities selected to receive academic scholarships in 2026.
Eight of the awards are named scholarships honoring past industry leaders or loved ones. This year, awards have been increased to $2,500 each, totaling $30,000, up from $2,000 each and $24,000 total in 2025.
Awards are being presented to the following scholars (listed in alphabetical order):
- Afrifa Amoah-Mensah, University of Florida: Richard J. Hackney Scholarship
- Carly Anderson, University of Florida: Dr. Bryson L. James Scholarship
- Rylee Brown, University of Arkansas
- George Buss, North Carolina State University: Robert L. VanLandingham Scholarship
- Michael Cook, Texas A&M University: Dr. James & Fay Foret Sr. Scholarship
- Tori Guarino, University of Florida
- Homa Hajarian, Virginia Tech: Art & Millie Lancaster Scholarship
- Tanner Hamerling, University of Georgia: Arthur A. "Buck" Jones Scholarship
- Ashley Jackson, University of Florida: Lee C. Howell Scholarship
- Kimberly Mayer, Texas Tech: Sally Smith Scholarship
- Christina Mercado, University of Florida
- Edilzon Ramirez, University of Florida
Scholarship recipients are determined through a competitive application process, administered by a selection committee, based on academics, determination, demonstrated interest in the horticulture industry and financial need. This year’s recipients were chosen from a competitive group of more than 60 applicants.
Danny Summers, the executive vice president of the fund, praised students who received scholarships, highlighting their academic excellence and passion for horticulture. Summers said these scholarships are crucial for these students, reducing financial stress and allowing them to focus more effectively on their studies. He expressed confidence that the scholarship recipients will become valuable contributors to the horticulture industry upon completing their education.
This was the fourth year that the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund and the Horticultural Research Institute announced their collaboration in creating a common application form for their respective scholarship programs.
This partnership makes it easier for students to apply for multiple scholarship programs at once and mitigate the time-consuming application process. Feedback from this year’s applicants confirmed the process was easy, and the ability to apply for more than one scholarship (if eligible) was a plus.
With this year’s awards, the fund has awarded a total of $704,000 since its establishment in 1989. The fund’s current assets are now more than $1,250,000.
Eight named funds have been established to date: The Dr. James & Faye Foret Fund, the Richard J. “Dick” Hackney Fund, the Lee C. Howell Fund, the Dr. Bryson L. James Fund, the Arthur A. “Buck” Jones Fund, the Art & Millie Lancaster Fund, the Sally Smith Fund, and the Robert L. VanLandingham Fund.
Named scholarships are established with a commitment of $30,000, with a minimum of $5,000 to begin and fulfillment over the next five years. Once established, a scholarship will be made annually in the designated name.
The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund is a 501 (c) 3 corporation providing scholarships to students who are residents of 16 Southeastern states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia — pursuing a career in horticulture.
The scholarship is dedicated to the late Sidney B. Meadows, a Southeast horticultural leader, past president of the Southern Nursery Association and avid supporter of student scholarships.
The fund derives its income from individual and corporate contributions and is governed by the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund board of directors.
The application for 2027 scholarships will be available in early 2027. Those interested in receiving scholarship information or the latest fund news can subscribe to the automated information system on the fund’s website.
For more information, contact:
- By mail: PO Box 801513, Acworth, GA 30101
- By phone: 678-813-1880
- By email: info@sbmsef.org
- Online: sbmsef.org
HRI, established in 1962, has provided scholarship and research funding in excess of $12 million. Both organizations recognize the importance and value of education in this field and are dedicated to helping students pursue their studies. To learn more about HRI, visit www.hriresearch.org.