The Sarasota Orchid Society Scholarship requirements:
Each academic year, the Sarasota Orchid Society awards scholarships of $2,500.00 to one or more high school seniors or college students from Sarasota or Manatee County with a declared major in the study of horticulture, botany, environmental science, or landscape design. The scholarship is for a one-year period. Scholarship recipients attending college may reapply annually for a period of three additional years if they continue to meet the criteria for the award. Scholarship money is released upon verification of the applicant’s status as a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours) and at least a 3.0 GPA.
To be eligible for the Sarasota Orchid Society Scholarship, applicants shall:
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Have been a resident of Florida for at least one year preceding the academic year for which the application is made.
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Be enrolled in a Sarasota or Manatee County High School as a full-time student or enrolled as a college student with legal residence in Sarasota or Manatee.
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Declare a major in one of the fields of study listed above.
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Submit 2 letters of recommendation; one from a staff member of the applicant’s current school and one from a person unrelated to the applicant.
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Submit a resume of extra-curricular activities, honors, leadership, job experience, non-school activities, and community service.
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Submit a statement explaining your interest in earning a degree in a natural science field.
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Submit a transcript with a 3.0 unweighted Grade Point Average or more, including SAT and/or ACT scores.
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Return the application by Friday, March 31, 2025, to Karen Clark, Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee, Email: karenclark@sarasotaorchidsociety.org
Sarasota Orchid Society High School Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Sarasota Orchid Society High School Scholarship Application
Sarasota Orchid Society College Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Sarasota Orchid Society College Scholarship Application
2024 Sarasota Orchid Society Scholarship Recipients:
In 2024, the Sarasota Orchid Society awarded 2 – $3,000 scholarships to students in the Sarasota/Bradenton area with a major in botany or similar areas of study.
Erin Newburger recently graduated from Braden River High School in Bradenton. She has been accepted to the University of Florida and plans to study Plant Sciences and Biology. In high school, Erin took the opportunity to learn about food crops, plant identification and to learn about the nursery industry. On a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, she was able to tour an orchid propagation lab. She plans to continue that work in college. She is also interested in hybridizing not just ornamental plants but Agriculture crops as well.
Maya Lander is a sophomore at the University of Florida studying Natural Resource Conservations with a focus in ecotourism and a minor in Landscape Architecture. Her career goals are to work in either theme parks or state parks, connecting guests with the natural environment surrounding them.
Natural Resource Conservation is a unique major and program at UF, allowing the student to set up their own path with various courses. With the help of her faculty mentor, Maya set her coursework to be centered around ecotourism. She is intrigued by how individuals engage with their surroundings, especially the natural environment. Her main goal is to give guests a unique experience while also educating and conserving the beautiful destination. She is also pursuing a minor in Landscape Architecture. She’s learned about design and even more about the environment.