HRI selects Virginia Tech student to receive scholarship funds

WASHINGTON, DC and COLUMBUS, OH — On Jan. 21, the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Inc. (MANTS) announced Virginia Tech Junior Nicholas Dzurenda as its 2019-2020 Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship recipient.

Dzurenda, who is pursuing a landscape horticulture and design degree, is a stand-out candidate because of his demonstrated leadership, superior work ethic and his sense of service to the green industry, according to HRI. He will be awarded $5,000 through the scholarship.

"A career in horticulture, for me, represents an opportunity to live out my values daily," said Dzurenda.

Dzurenda plans to pursue research in environmental sustainability with specific attention to soil-improving agriculture and native-species gardening. To complement his minor in civic agriculture and food security, he volunteers through the Virginia Master Naturalist program and a local vegetable garden.

The Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship has been impacting young horticultural leaders since 2002. It serves to memorialize Mr. Akehurst who served the horticultural industry as one of the founders of MANTS, and it was established with the belief that the strength and future success of the horticulture industry lies in the solid education of today's students.

Learn how to become involved in the work supported through HRI, the AmericanHort Foundation, at www.hriresearch.org

For more MANTS related content, check out our coverage from the 2020 event here.