Spring Meadow Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Horticulture Research Institute
Introduction
The HRI Scholarship Program comprises several distinct scholarship funds created by industry donors, each with specific interests. To simplify the process, HRI provides a single, common application that lets eligible students be considered for multiple scholarship awards at once. HRI also accepts applicants for the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund through the same application.
Application window
Applications for awards to support the 2026 academic year are accepted from March through May 31, 2026.
What donors support
Donor-funded scholarships generally focus on careers and activities that advance environmental and ornamental horticulture, including:
- nursery and greenhouse production
- landscape business operations
- garden retail enterprises
- ornamental plant breeding and propagation
- business, sales, and supply-chain roles tied to horticulture
- applied research or extension work that directly benefits environmental/ornamental horticulture
Who should apply (Eligibility overview)
While each individual scholarship may include its own preferences or restrictions, all HRI scholarships share baseline eligibility criteria described below.
Career intent
These scholarships are intended for students preparing to work within the environmental/ornamental horticulture sector. Competitive applicants clearly show a plan to enter the horticulture workforce after graduation. As part of the application, every candidate must submit a statement explaining how they intend to contribute to and pursue a career in horticulture; this statement is a central factor in the selection process.
Acceptable fields of study
Primary consideration is given to students enrolled in horticulture or closely related programs. Commonly accepted majors include:
- Horticulture or Horticultural Science
- Nursery/Greenhouse Management or Production
- Landscape Design, Construction, or Management
- Ornamental Horticulture
- Sustainable Horticulture
Related degrees may also qualify when the applicant demonstrates a clear, practical connection to horticulture. Examples of closely related majors:
- Plant Science
- Plant Pathology
- Landscape Architecture
- Forestry
- Business or Marketing (when coursework and career goals are directly applied to horticulture businesses or industry roles)
Applicants in related programs must explain how their studies, experiences, and career objectives will be applied directly within the horticulture industry.
Academic requirements
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 2.25
- GPA will be considered as part of an overall, holistic review of each application.
- Applicants must be enrolled full-time and in good academic standing at the time the scholarship is awarded.
- Eligible degree levels:
- Undergraduate: Associate or Bachelor’s degree programs
- Graduate: Master’s or Doctoral programs
Note: Specific funds may prioritize or prefer certain degree levels; however, applicants at any of the levels listed above remain eligible unless a particular scholarship explicitly restricts who may apply.
Geographic requirements
Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited institution located within the United States. Some scholarship funds may also impose additional geographic preferences or eligibility tied to the applicant’s residency or the location of the institution.
Final notes
Because each donor fund can include its own preferential criteria, applicants should review any fund-specific details when available. The common application will enable consideration for multiple HRI-funded scholarships as well as the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund during the stated application period.