Clone of Garden Scholar Awards Application

Cultivating at the Confluence: Where Ideas Come Together

August 18-20, 2026 | St. Louis, MO | Hosted by Missouri Botanical Garden

Garden Scholar awardees will receive one complimentary registration to the Symposium and a $750 USD stipend to help offset the costs of travel and accommodations.

Please contact scholarships@publicgardens.org with any questions.

APPLICATION DEADLINE June 15, 2026

Applicant Requirements:

Applicants must be an APGA member, either through their organization’s institutional membership or as an individual member (student, retired, individual)
Applicants must not have been awarded a Garden Scholar award or fee-waiver within the previous 12 months
Completed applications must include:
- Applicant’s current resume or CV
- A 300-word personal narrative
- A reference letter from a professional within the field of public horticulture,
- A signed Affirmation Form (below) from an appropriate decision-maker, approving the applicant's attendance at the event (not applicable to students or individual members)
- A professional headshot

Applications are evaluated based on:

Strength of personal narrative which demonstrates interest and goals of symposium attendance, as well as degree of individual and/or institutional financial need, and/or matters of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility
Strength of professional reference which indicates support for the applicant's level of commitment and current or potential success in the field of public horticulture
Level of participation in APGA or outside horticultural professional development programs or communities

Selection of awardees is at the discretion of the Garden Scholar Awards Committee. However, award priority is given to:

First-time symposium attendees
Students, interns, and entry-level professionals within the field of public horticulture
Aspiring or emerging leaders within the field of public horticulture

Download the Affirmation Form here.

Name

First NameLast Name

Title

Garden or Employer

If unaffiliated with a member garden, type "none" or "student."

Email Address

Phone Number

Gender (optional)

Are you a current member of APGA?

Have you applied for a Garden Scholar Award within the last 12 months?

Public Horticulture Work Experience

Previous Attendance (check all that apply)

Are you presenting at a session or workshop at the symposium?

Please write a 300-word narrative demonstrating your interest and goals of symposium attendance, as well as your degree of individual and/or institutional financial need, and/or matters of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.

Please describe your participation in horticultural professional development programs or communities, either with APGA or other organizations.

Learn about our professional communities here: https://members.publicgardens.org/professional-communities/

Current resume or CV

Professional Reference Name

Reference Email Address

Letter from a reference within the field of public horticulture, indicating support for the applicant's character and current of potential success in the field

Affirmer Name

Affirmer Email Address

Signed Affirmation Form from an appropriate decision-maker, approving the applicant's attendance at the symposium

Not applicable to student or individual members

Professional Headshot

Garden Scholar Awards Application

Applicant Information

Supporting Materials