Information from the Texas A&M University Financial Aid Office
Texas A&M University administers most of its financial aid through a centralized office. This should be your first stop when investigating possible financial aid. See their Website: https://financialaid.tamu.edu/
TAMU Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid
The starting point for anyone seeking financial aid begins with the completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form is completed online, and it becomes the document which determines the extent of eligibility of a student for federal financial aid. It is often used as a factor for determining total financial need, and some need-based scholarships require evaluation of the FAFSA as part of the application process.
Study Abroad Scholarships:
Application for the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Study Abroad Scholarships for 2018-2019,
Scholarships Administered by the Department of Horticultural Sciences
The Department of Horticultural Sciences awards 30-40 scholarships annually to students currently majoring in Horticulture. Applications are available in October through Texas A&M’s Continuing Student Scholarship application at https://scholarships.tamu.edu/Important-Dates and the deadline for submission is February 1. One application makes students eligible to compete for all of the scholarships offered through the Department as well as the University. Departmental Scholarships range from $1000 – $5000, with most averaging $1000. The applications are reviewed for academic performance, career interests, leadership qualities, job experience and financial need. These scholarships are awarded at the Departmental Annual Awards Banquet held on Parent’s Weekend each spring. Donors and descriptions of each scholarship are listed below.
Minimum Qualifications for Departmental Scholarships
Current Texas A&M University HORT major full-time student fall of next academic year unless an exception is granted. Minimum GPR of 2.5 unless other activities and credentials are exceptional. Complete the Continuing Student Scholarship Application by the February 1 deadline.
The Creighton Miller Scholarship
The Creighton Miller Scholarship in Plant Breeding and Genetics, is endowed by the late Dr. Creighton Miller and his wife Dr. Jeannie Miller. Dr. Creighton Miller was hired by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in 1972 to initiate a potato variety development program for the state of Texas. By 1975, he was a professor for the Department of Horticultural Sciences. He later served as Interim Head of the Department for three years. Shortly after, our Horticulture program was nationally ranked thanks to his leadership. His career in potato breeding and as a professor has not only left an outstanding legacy, but has shaped our department as a whole. This scholarship, thanks to him and his family, will be gifted to full-time students in good standing pursuing an undergraduate degree in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University.
William C. Welch Landscape Horticulture Scholarship
The William C. Welch Landscape Horticulture Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student with a specific interest in landscape horticulture. The scholarship is awarded annually from income earned on an endowment established by the Landscape Design Critic’s Council of Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. Funds for the scholarship endowment are generated by members’ sale of Dr. Welch’s books Perennial Garden Color, Antique Roses for the South, and The Southern Heirloom Garden, as well as gifts from friends and associates of Dr. Welch.
F.W. Hensel Memorial Scholarship
The F.W. Hensel Scholarship was established in 1953 by the Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture Club to honor the late Professor F.W. Hensel. Professor Hensel was Head of the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture at that time. The FHS contributed to the endowment $500 to $1000 yearly until the mid 1980′s, at which time it reached an endowment of approximately $38,000 and became self-sustaining. The purpose of the scholarship is to aid outstanding students in floriculture and ornamental horticulture.
Herbert Harkrider Memorial – Central Texas Teleflora Scholarship
The Herbert Harkrider Memorial – Central Texas Teleflora Scholarship was endowed in 1973 by the Central Texas Unit of Teleflora. It was established as a tribute to the late Mr. Herbert Harkrider (class of ’53) of Harkrider’s Flowers in Brady, TX. It was initiated to a large degree by the efforts of Mr. Truman McPhail of Airport Florist, Inc. in Austin, TX. The purpose of the scholarship is as a tribute to the late Herbert Harkrider of Harkrider’s Flowers, Brady, TX, and to support a deserving student interested in floristry.
James F. Rosborough Memorial Scholarship
The James F. Rosborough Scholarship was established in memory of the late Mr. James F. Rosborough by his wife, Mrs. Martha Rosborough. Mr. Rosborough was a Horticulture Extension Specialist from 1926 to 1960 responsible for both fruit and vegetable production state-wide. Mr. Rosborough was widely traveled and widely respected for his vast knowledge in horticulture. The purpose of the scholarship is to recognize the outstanding freshman in the Department.
Fred Brison Scholarship
The Fred Brison Scholarship was originally endowed in 1976 by Mr. Leon and Mrs. Mildred Miller of Tyler/Lindale, TX. Mr. Brison retired from the Department after many years of service and is recognized as one of the original experts in pecan culture and management. His knowledge, and the students he trained, became the backbone of the Texas Pecan Industry. His wife, Mrs. Vera Brison, has continued to support the endowment and separate scholarships in Professor Brison’s name to this day. Many friends of Professor Brison have contributed to the endowment over the years. Since 1991, the Fred Brison Scholarship fund also funds the Fred Brison Outstanding Senior in Horticulture Award. The purpose of the scholarship is to support an outstanding student interested in horticulture, especially pecan culture.
Leon Miller Scholarship
The Leon Miller Scholarship was endowed in 1977 by Mr. Leon and Mrs. Mildred Miller. Mr. Miller is a prominent and long-time horticulturist who produced numerous horticultural crops and operated a cannery in the Lindale, Tyler area of East Texas. Mr. Miller also endowed the Fred Brison Scholarship. The purpose of the scholarship is to support deserving horticulture students.
Robert H. Rucker Floriculture Scholarship
The Robert H. Rucker Floriculture Scholarship was established in the early 1980′s by the Department of Horticultural Science and friends of Professor Rucker. Significant contributions have been from the FHS club ($500-$1000 annually) through the 1980′s. In 1988, the late Mr. Benny Simpson, who was a scientist at TAES Dallas, contributed 1/3 of the royalties from his book “A Field Guide to Texas Trees”. The endowment (approximately $9,000) is self-sustaining, but continued contributions are collected. The Rucker Scholarship Endowment also funds the Robert H. Rucker Outstanding Senior in Floriculture Award. The purpose of the scholarship is to support deserving students in floriculture and ensure the ideals of a dedicated teacher and friend to floriculture, landscape design industry and garden club member-Mr. Robert Rucker.
Everett R. Emino Endowment Fund
The Everett R. Emino Endowment Fund was established in 1982 by Dr. Everett R. Emino for the purpose of funding the Homer T. Blackhurst Award. Dr. Emino was a faculty member in the Department of Horticultural Science through the 1970′s until his departure in 1982 to assume a position elsewhere. The fund is also used to supplement other scholarships.
Bill Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Bill Walker Memorial Scholarship was established in 1982 by an endowment from the Midwest Texas Florist Association. It was established in memory of Mr. Bill Walker to help others with education, which was his “mission in life”. Mr. Gene Foster of Gorman, TX was President at the time and was one of the main promoters of establishing the endowment. The late Mr. Bill Walker was a prominent florist in the Abilene area and was founder and 1st President of the Midwest Texas Florist Association (formerly Big Country Florist Association). The scholarship preference is to support a student from Central Texas Counties, who is interested in floristry.
Champion Forest Garden Club Scholarship
The Champion Forest Garden Club Scholarship was first awarded in 1984 and sponsored by the Champion Forest Garden Club of Spring, TX. It has been sponsored on a yearly basis to the present. The scholarship preference is to support a deserving student from the Spring, TX area interested in floriculture and ornamental horticulture with a botanical garden landscape, nursery or extension emphasis.
Craig Rosborough Memorial Scholarship
The Craig Rosborough Memorial Scholarship was endowed in 1968 in memory of the late Mr. Craig B. Rosborough (class of ’22) by his late wife, Mrs. Mae Rosborough. Mr. Rosborough was a tireless leader in promoting tree nut crops in Texas and Arkansas. In a letter to Dr. J. Benton Storey (Aug. ’68), Mrs. Rosborough stated that “his zest and enthusiasm continued through the years after his retirement, sick as he was, and that she wanted to endow the scholarship to continue his help in that field”. The purpose of the scholarship is to support a deserving student in horticulture interested in tree fruit crops.
Jayson G. Harris Memorial Scholarship
The Jayson Guy Harris Memorial Scholarship was endowed in 1980 by Mr. Johnny B. Harris, Hamilton, TX, in memory of his son, Jayson Guy Harris. Jayson Guy Harris was a student at Texas A&M at the time of his accidental death. In 1987, Mr. James VanAntwerp, III received the Jayson Guy Harris Memorial Scholarship, and in 1992 after his graduation, he personally sponsored a Jayson Guy Harris Memorial Scholarship out of gratitude for being a previous recipient. The purpose of the scholarship is to aid a deserving horticulture student.
Margaret Plum Floriculture Scholarship
The Margaret Plum Floriculture Scholarship was endowed by Mr. Charles and Mrs. Margaret Plum in 1987. The desire for Mr. and Mrs. Plum to fund a scholarship was largely due to the efforts of Mr. James Johnson, floral design lecturer and holder of the Benz Chair of Floral Design in the Department of Horticultural Sciences. Mr. Plum wrote to Mr. Johnson in 1987 and states “Your tremendous interest in students and unselfish involvement in campus and community activities have prompted us to assist in your program in this way”. The purpose of the scholarship is to aid deserving students with a career interest in floristry.
FTD District 9D Scholarship
The FTD District 9D Scholarship is funded annually by District 9D of FTD. The purpose of the scholarship is to support deserving students with interest in floral design.
Horticulture Club Scholarship
The Floriculture-Horticulture Society Scholarship was started in 1990, and later changed to the Horticulture Club Scholarship when the organization changed its name. From 1953 to the early 1980′s, the FHS Society contributed $500-$1000 yearly to the F.W. Hensel Scholarship and during the 1980′s to the Robert Rucker Scholarship. Once both endowments reached the point that they were self-sustaining, the FHS Society decided to contribute to a scholarship in their name. The purpose of the scholarship is to honor a deserving student with interest in floriculture and ornamental horticulture, and is also active in the TAMU Horticulture Club.