Applications for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s (FFVA) Mike and Karen Stuart Scholarship are due April 15. Application forms are available at the FFVA’s Florida Specialty Crop Foundation website.
The scholarship, for $2,000 per recipient, was created in 2021 to encourage and support college students who intend to pursue a career in the specialty crop industry. It is open to incoming juniors through graduate program students. Applicants may be interested in either production agriculture (growing, shipping, packing) or the allied industry (fertilizer and crop protection, equipment, food safety, sales and marketing, etc.). The specialty crop industry focuses on vegetables, citrus, tropical fruit, berries, sod, sugar cane, tree crops and more.
The scholarship is in recognition of the devotion and years of service to the specialty crop industry provided by former FFVA president Mike Stuart and his late wife Karen. Stuart was president of the association from 1992 until his retirement in 2018.
Two scholarships will be awarded annually. Priority may be given to a member of FFVA. Scholarship requirements include:
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above
- Provide a transcript with GPA
- Reside in Florida
- Submit application form, including essays and two letters of reference
In 2021, Elanie Mason and Roberto Ortez were the first recipients of the scholarship. In 2022, Mason was a scholarship recipient again, along with Erin Parke Watson.
Learn here how to make a tax-deductible donation to the Mike and Karen Stuart Scholarship.
FFVA has served Florida’s grower-shipper community since 1943. It represents a broad range of crops. Its mission is to enhance the competitive and business environment for producing and marketing fruit, vegetables and more.
Source: FFVA
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