Scholarship Application- Spring 2022 Cycle

Garden Scholars Application- Fall 2022 Cycle

For Association in-person events October 2022 through February 2023
General Information

Scholar awards will be applied towards reimbursable hotel/travel and related costs to attend a regional symposium (max. $650) or Annual Conference (max. $1500). Event registration will also be comped.

Priority Award Member Segments:
- Staff from member gardens or Individual Level Member holders at one of these specific stages on their roadmap to professional development:
  - Intern/Recent Intern
  - Entry-level / Career launch
  - Mid-level Management
  - Aspiring or Emerging Leaders
- 1st time attendee to an Association symposium or Annual Conference
Students currently enrolled in a university program who have/had an existing internship or paid work affiliation with a member garden, or holds an active membership status with the Association through June 2022 with or without a member garden affiliation.

Applications are evaluated based on:
- Strength of personal narrative
- Strength of support letter for scholarship applicant
- Degree of individual and/ or institutional financial need
- Issues of equity - diversity/inclusion/economic
Application Criteria and Considerations:

1. All applicants must be employed by, or serve in an intern capacity with, a member garden in good standing with the Association or hold an individual membership with the Association. Please be sure to review all criteria and instructions before applying for any scholar award to ensure eligibility.

2. Named scholar awards, when offered have specific additional criteria and/or considerations. Please review these on the website before applying and comply with any requests for more information. Lack of compliance with these guidelines may result in disqualification from consideration.

3. If registration capacity is limited for your desired event, consider pre-registering early to guarantee your attendance. Applying for an award does not guarantee an available registration space if you are not selected. Symposia often have limited capacity and may sell out before registration deadlines and/or scholar award eligibility notifications.

4. Applications must be accompanied by all of the following:

• A current resume or CV
• A 300-word narrative from the applicant stating rationale for seeking a scholar award opportunity demonstrating the applicant's interest in furthering their professional skills through attendance at a chosen conference or symposium. Please adhere to the word count and include any additional narrative instructions included with a named scholar award as indicated.
• A letter of support signed by an individual "champion" who is familiar with the field of public horticulture, indicating support for the applicant's leadership, scholar award need, and potential success in the field of public garden management

• A signed Letter of Affirmation Form by the applicant's termal supervisor or CEO approving and supporting the application (.pdf template on Garden Scholar website pages). The CEO may also provide the Letter of Support outlined above.

• A headshot to be used in publication if you are awarded a scholar award. They will not be seen by the Garden Scholar Committee in deliberations.

4. Only one application per person per application cycle will be considered.

5. Applicants having received a past full Garden Scholars award (general or named) must wait 12 months from the time of their last application to be eligible to re-apply (e.g., spring cycle to spring cycle).

6. Disbursement of scholar awards among the available professional development opportunities in any given cycle is at the discretion of the Garden Scholars Committee, with input from named scholar award donors, and based on funds available through contributions to the Garden Scholars Fund.

See below for available awards and number for this cycle.
The BHS Scholar Award (1)

Open To:
- Students or staff members at a member garden for less then 3 years; and who will be
- First-time attendees to an Association conference or symposium
The Kittleman Scholar Award for Aspiring Public Garden Leaders (1)

Open To:
- Individuals with at least seven (7) years of previous work experience in a public garden or related field, and currently employed by a Member Institution; and
- Individuals with aspirations to lead or direct a public garden in the future
If you wish to be considered for this scholar award, please answer the following questions in your narrative:
1. What training have you sought out to improve your management and leadership skills over the past three years?
2. Of all the important leadership traits, what 5 are most important to you?
3. What specific staff management skills are you using that seem to be most effective?
4. What have you found to be your most effective skills and qualities for working with board volunteers?
The Leichtag Scholarship

Open To:
- Students currently enrolled in a horticulture or related area of study who have/had an existing internship or paid work affiliation with a member garden; OR
- Staff members working in horticulture or a related area for a member garden with not less than one (1) or more than three (3) years of experience
- Priority given to underrepresented/underserved applicants living and working in Southern California, especially from San Diego County. However, applicants from throughout Association membership will also be considered.
The Longwood Gardens Scholar Award (2)

Open To:
- Staff members working in the field of public horticulture for a member garden with not less than three (3) or more than five (5) years of related work experience; and
- First-time attendees of the American Public Gardens Association Professional Development symposium or conference.
Garden Scholars Fund

Open To:
- Staff, students, and interns at Association member institutions. Please see Priority Member Segments and Considerations under "General Scholarship Information" above for more information.
Your Information
Your Name *

First Name Last Name
Title *
Institution *
If unaffiliated with a garden member institution type "none" or "student."
Email *
example@example.com
Phone Number *

Area Code Phone Number
The Education Symposium is the only qualifying event in the fall cycle for a Garden Scholar award.
Education Symposium is the only in-person event available for award this cycle.
Demographic Information

Please answer the following demographic questions to help us better identify scholar award eligibility. Please note that answering "Prefer not to respond" will not negatively effect your chances of being awarded a scholar award, and we encourage you to select it if you do not wish to answer. All answers are kept confidential.
Gender: *

Male Female Transgender Female Transgender Male Gender Variant/Non-Conforming Prefer not to answer
Our Association is committed to creating an equitable, diverse, accessible, and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected and appreciated. Please let us know if you believe you belong to any group that is under-represented in our industry. If none or you prefer not to respond, please type "n/a" *
Public Garden Work Experience *

Less than 1 year 1-3 Years 3-5 Years 5-7 Years 7+ Years Currently a student Currently an intern
Previous conference/ symposium attendance (check all that apply) *

I have attended an Association symposium in-person before I have attended an Association Annual Conference in-person before I have never attended any Association professional development events in-person I have registered and attended virtual professional development events by the Association
Have you applied for an Association award within the last 12 months? *

Yes No
Professional Area of Focus *
Attachments

Please attach in PDF format the following documents (unless otherwise noted):
Your current resume or CV *

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A 300-word narrative stating your rationale for seeking the scholar award opportunity demonstrating how attending this event will further your professional skills through attendance at the symposium or conference.

If applying for the Kittleman Scholar Award, please answer the following questions in your narrative:

What training have you sought out to improve your management and leadership skills over the past three years?
Of all the important leadership traits, what 5 are most important to you?
What specific staff management skills are you using that seem to be most effective?
What have you found to be your most effective skills and qualities for working with board volunteers?
Attach narrative here *

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Attach head shot/photo here *

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Your photo will not be attached to your application for review. However if you are an awardee it will be used in publication and on our website to promote the scholarship. Acceptable formats: jpg, jpeg, png Cancel of
Letters of Support/Affirmation

Please attached a letter of support signed by your chief executive indicating support for your leadership, scholar award need, and potential for success in the field of public garden management.
Letter of Support "Champion" Name *

First Name Last Name
"Champion" Title *
"Champion" Email *
example@example.com
Attach support letter here *

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Letter of Affirmation Name *

First Name Last Name
Terminal Supervisor/CEO Title *
Terminal Supervisor/CEO's Email *
example@example.com
Attach Letter of Affirmation here (see website for form) *

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Garden Scholars Application- Fall 2022 Cycle

Your Information

Demographic Information

Attachments

Letters of Support/Affirmation