GCA Club Scholarships Uplift Local Students and Communities

Scholarships Awarded by Both GCA and Its Member Clubs Help Fund Studies for Research and a Healthier Environmental Future.

October 01, 2025

By: Sid Hancock

It’s scholarship application season for the GCA and its member clubs! While the GCA awarded $533,000 to 119 scholars this year funding research in fields including botany, landscape architecture, and pollinator studies, did you know that one-third of the GCA’s 199 clubs offer their own scholarships? 

Rumson Garden Club, in New Jersey, annually awards scholarships to two high school students. For 25 years, one has been given to a local college-bound student pursuing horticulture, landscape design, or environmental studies including conservation, marine science, or earth science. The club also supports high school sophomores and juniors interested in horticulture, conservation, and/or improving the environment. Scholarships are funded by an annual plant sale and member donations. 

The Jupiter Island Garden Club (JIGC), in Florida, awards scholarships to Martin County high school seniors based on financial need, academic potential, and work ethic. Awards are given to students planning to major in horticulture, marine biology, conservation, environmental science, water and land management, as well as design and photography. The scholarships are funded by WearHouse, a thrift shop operated by JIGC volunteers. This year, JIGC selected eight students to each receive $15,000 over four years. 

Cedar Rapids Garden Club (CRGC), in Iowa, has donated scholarships to Kirkwood Community College horticulture, parks, and natural resources majors for over 20 years, helping to reduce financial barriers. A college spokesperson notes, CRGC’s support has a "profound impact on every individual and business in the region.”

The GCA Scholarship application is available https://www.gcamerica.org/scholarships. Please check with individual GCA clubs for application information and deadlines.