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GCA ScholarshipsExplore & Apply

The Garden Club of America offers 29 merit-based scholarships and fellowships in 12 areas related to conservation, ecology, horticulture, and pollinator research.

 

Botany

The Anne S. Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany

Botany

To protect, preserve and expand knowledge about the medicinal use of plants, thus preventing the disappearance of plants with therapeutic potential. Providing this research opportunity for botanists can, in turn, assist medical science to develop therapies  that improve the quality of life of patients and develop life-saving medicines.

Level of Education:
Doctoral candidates and recent PhDs in botany
Application deadline:
January 31
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The Garden Club of America Summer Scholarship in Field Botany

Botany

To support students' field studies and offer an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.

Level of Education:
For undergraduate and graduate students.
Application deadline:
February 1
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The Loy McCandless Marks Scholarship (an International Scholarship in Tropical Horticulture or Landscape Architecture)

Botany

To promote the study of tropical horticulture and landscape architecture.

Level of Education:
For graduate students and undergraduates
Application deadline:
January 15
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The Zeller Summer Scholarship in Medicinal Botany

Botany

To encourage US undergraduate students to expand their knowledge of medicinal botany by pursuing summer study in various projects, courses, and/or internships with supervision and structure.

Level of Education:
For summer study following any undergraduate year.
Application deadline:
February 1
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The Joan K. Hunt and Rachel M. Hunt Summer Scholarship in Field Botany

Botany

To promote the importance of botany to horticulture by encouraging young students to study field botany in the US, and to offer an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the field beyond the regular course of study.

Level of Education:
For undergraduate or graduate students.
Application deadline:
February 1
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The Garden Club of America Fellowship in Tropical Botany

Botany

To promote the preservation of tropical forests by enlarging the body of botanists with field experience.

Level of Education:
PhD candidates
Application deadline:
January 15
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Coastal Wetlands Studies

The Garden Club of America Award in Coastal Wetlands Studies

Coastal Wetlands Studies

To promote, expand and enrich the body of research concerning the coast by actively supporting graduate students in the field of coastal wetlands science.

Level of Education:
Open to graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in coastal wetlands science.
Application deadline:
January 15
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Conservation & Ecological Restoration

The Garden Club of America Fellowship in Ecological Restoration

Conservation & Ecological Restoration

The Garden Club of America (GCA) offers an annual Fellowship in Ecological Restoration.  Established in 2000 with funds from the John B. Young Charitable Trust as well as GCA  members and clubs, the fellowship’s goal is to support research that will advance knowledge and  increase the number of scientists in the important field of ecological restoration, the active  healing of the land. The $8,000 grant is awarded annually to exceptional graduate students to  support specialized study in ecological restoration at an accredited U.S. university. Preference ...

Level of Education:
Graduate Students
Application deadline:
December 31
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The Sara Shallenberger Brown Garden Club of America National Parks Conservation Scholarship

Conservation & Ecological Restoration

To encourage studies and careers in the conservation fields, with the opportunity to protect, enhance, and gain knowledge and experience for the lasting benefit of the U.S. National Parks. The Sara Brown GCA National Parks Scholarship will fund at least one (or more) SCA Apprentice Crew Leader (ACL), Leader, and/or Apprentice annually.ACLs and leaders will provide support, encouragement, and mentorship of high school crews engaged in hands-on conservation projects. Apprentices will work under the direct oversight of a land management agency or organization to address specific needs, which...

Application deadline:
February 15
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Desert Studies

The Garden Club of America Award in Desert Studies

Desert Studies

To promote the study of horticulture, conservation, botany, environmental science and landscape design relating to the arid landscape.

Level of Education:
For graduate and junior or senior undergraduate students.
Application deadline:
January 15
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Garden History & Design

The Garden Club of America Scholarship in Garden History and Design at the Archives of American Gardens

Garden History & Design

To encourage the study of garden history and design and, if possible, aid in cataloging The Garden Club of America Collection in the Archives of American Gardens (AAG) at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

Level of Education:
Open to graduate students.
Application deadline:
February 1
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The Douglas Dockery Thomas Fellowship in Garden History and Design

Garden History & Design

To further the study of history and design in the American garden and to look to the future of gardens and their unique place in our environment.

Level of Education:
Graduate students
Application deadline:
February 1
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Horticulture & Related Fields

The Keller Scholarship in Conservation Horticulture

Horticulture & Related Fields

To promote plant conservation capacity and coordination among botanic gardens, and/or public gardens, in the United States through programs of Botanic Gardens Conservation International-US (BGCI-US) in collaboration with The Garden Club of America (GCA).

Level of Education:
Open to a current undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior with a declared major in biology, horticulture, or related fields. Preference is given to students with interest in plant conservation and botanic gardens.
Application deadline:
January 15
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The Katharine M. Grosscup Scholarships in Horticulture

Horticulture & Related Fields

To encourage the study of horticulture and related fields.

Level of Education:
Open to rising college sophomores, juniors, seniors or master's degree candidates in the fall of 2024.
Application deadline:
January 15
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The Corliss Knapp Engle Scholarship in Horticulture

Horticulture & Related Fields

To encourage the development of research, documentation, and teaching skills in the field of horticulture.

Level of Education:
For undergraduate, graduate, advanced degree candidates, or non-degree seeking students above the high school level.
Application deadline:
February 1
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The Garden Club of America Hope Goddard Iselin Fellowship in Public Horticulture

Horticulture & Related Fields

To further the study of public horticulture through experiential learning that takes place at a recognized public garden, botanic garden, arboretum, or other closely aligned public horticulture institution within the United States.

Level of Education:
Open to students enrolled in a graduate-level university program to study public horticulture. Student must confirm ability to conduct research or otherwise utilize facility where study will be undertaken.
Application deadline:
February 1
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The Garden Club of America Montine M. Freeman Scholarship in Native Plant Studies

Horticulture & Related Fields

To encourage the understanding, development and use of underutilized native plants. Established to encourage the development of research, documentation, and teaching skills in the field of horticulture.

Level of Education:
Open to college undergraduates or graduate students, advanced degree candidates, or non-degree seeking students above the high school level.
Application deadline:
February 1
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The Catherine H. Beattie Fellowship in Conservation Horticulture

Horticulture & Related Fields

To promote conservation of rare and endangered flora in the United States through the programs of the Center for Plant Conservation, Escondido, California.

Level of Education:
Open to graduate students.
Application deadline:
January 31
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International Work & Study

The Garden Club of America and the Royal Horticultural Society Interchange Fellowships

International Work & Study

To foster British-American relations through the interchange of scholars in horticulture, landscape architecture, and related areas and to promote the exchange of information in the horticulture field. These international and prestigious Interchange Fellowships allow for an American student to study and work in the UK and a British student to study and work in the U.S. The fellowships last one year and are life changing experiences for the recipients who go on to be leaders in the field of horticulture. View the resources below to learn more about the fellowships and previous fellows. ...

Application deadline:
January 15
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The Loy McCandless Marks Scholarship (an International Scholarship in Tropical Horticulture or Landscape Architecture)

International Work & Study

To promote the study of tropical horticulture and landscape architecture.

Level of Education:
For graduate students and undergraduates
Application deadline:
January 15
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Landscape Architecture

The Garden Club of America Rome Prize Fellowship in Landscape Architecture

Landscape Architecture

The American Academy in Rome supports innovative artists, writers, and scholars living and working together in a dynamic international community. The Rome Prize Fellowship in Landscape Architecture, which includes geography, environmental design and planning, landscape and ecological urbanism, landscape history, sustainability, and ecological studies, provides American landscape architects with a special opportunity for advanced study, travel, and association with other fellows in Rome.

Level of Education:
Anyone may apply. However, undergraduate students are not eligible for Rome Prize Fellowships.
Application deadline:
November 1
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The Moore Family Fellowship in The Making of the American Landscape

Landscape Architecture

To promote, expand, enrich and develop the body of research in significant man-made changes to the American landscape since the country’s founding in 1776.

Level of Education:
Graduate students pursuing advanced degrees.
Application deadline:
February 1
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Native Bird Habitat

The Frances M. Peacock Scholarship for Native Bird Habitat

Native Bird Habitat

To provide financial aid to study areas in the United States that provide seasonal habitat for threatened or endangered native birds and to tend useful information for land-management decisions.

Level of Education:
College seniors and graduate students.
Application deadline:
January 15
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Pollinator Research

The Garden Club of America Board of Associates Centennial Pollinator Fellowship

Pollinator Research

To provide funding to study the causes of pollinator decline, in particular bees, bats, butterflies and moths, which could lead to potential solutions for their conservation and sustainability.

Level of Education:
Open to graduate students.
Application deadline:
January 15
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Summer Environmental Study

The Clara Carter Higgins Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship

Summer Environmental Study

To encourage studies and careers in the environmental field, providing the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.

Level of Education:
Open to undergraduate college students.
Application deadline:
February 5
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The Garden Club of America Awards for Summer Environmental Studies

Summer Environmental Study

To encourage studies and careers in the environmental field, with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.

Level of Education:
Open to undergraduate students.
Application deadline:
February 5
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The Caroline Thorn Kissel Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship

Summer Environmental Study

To promote environmental studies by students who are residents of New Jersey or nonresidents studying in New Jersey or its adjacent waters.

Level of Education:
Open to current and actively enrolled college students, graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, non-degree-seeking students, or those actively enrolled in continuing education programs at a US-based institution.
Application deadline:
February 5
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The Mary T. Carothers Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship

Summer Environmental Study

To encourage studies and careers in the environmental field, with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.

Level of Education:
Open to college undergraduates for summer study following their freshman, sophomore, or junior year.
Application deadline:
February 5
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The Elizabeth Gardner Norweb Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship

Summer Environmental Study

To encourage studies and careers in the environmental field, with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study.

Level of Education:
Open to college undergraduate for summer study following freshman, sophomore, or junior year.
Application deadline:
February 5
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Urban Forestry

The Garden Club of America Zone VI Fellowship in Urban Forestry

Urban Forestry

To advance the field of urban forestry by encouraging students to study the planning, management, horticulture and ecology of urban forests and the effect of healthy urban forests on people and the environment. urban forests and the effect of healthy urban forests on people and  the environment.

Level of Education:
For graduate students and advanced undergraduates.
Application deadline:
January 15
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