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Experience the Industry at Cultivate

What is the AmericanHort Scholars program?

This program sets students in horticulture on a path to success by exposing them to the breadth of the horticulture industry, its opportunities, and its leaders at Cultivate. Each year, 6 students are chosen for this beyond-the-classroom experience – giving insight and awareness of the industry, its supply chain, and where they might find a home for their passion

In other words, HortScholars will meet many, many people that:

  • Can help with finding a fantastic job or internship
  • Offer insights on the best ways to reach career goals
  • Will tell funny stories about stupid things they did early in their career (and that you can learn from)
  • Provide lots of realistic advice that is actually useful

Who is eligible?

The AmericanHort Scholars program is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are attending 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. (If you graduate just before the program starts in July, that’s okay). Check out the program requirements.

What exactly is an AmericanHort Scholar and what do they do?

HortScholars spend several days on-site at Cultivate in Columbus, Ohio.

  • Volunteering with set up
  • Learning about the green industry
  • Networking in facilitated meetings with industry leaders
  • Presenting on a horticulture topic of their choice
  • And much more!

This program is a unique experience designed to help create long-lasting industry connections, find future jobs and internships, and experience some of the most exciting aspects of the industry.

When and where does the AmericanHort Scholars program take place?

The HortScholar program takes place at Cultivate in Columbus ,Ohio. AmericanHort provides complimentary meals, lodging, an All-Access Pass to Cultivate, and a complimentary one-year student membership in addition to the HortScholar activities at Cultivate. Scholars are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from Columbus, Ohio.

Still have questions?

Check out the FAQs or contact the program coordinator, Katie Gustafson.

2023 Applications window has closed. Check back during fall 2023 for 2024 application window.

What HortScholar Alumni Say About the Program

“As a one of the 2020 HortScholars, and the 2021 HortScholar Coordinator, this unique experience helped me grow my career by exponentially expanding my network, opening my eyes to the numerous career options our industry offers, and fertilizing my passions and ambitions, all surrounded by supportive and eager plantspeople wanting to see me flourish. I strongly encourage green industry professionals to share this opportunity with any students they know who want to succeed in the horticulture industry.”
David McKinneyHortScholar Class of 2020
"Attending the HortScholar program really broadened
my perspective on the career possibilities in horticulture.”
Felicia MilletHortScholar Class of 2019
“As a HortScholar, you get to meet one-on-one with leading horticultural professionals, make career connections throughout Cultivate and get an experience that no other attendee will have.”
Annika KohlerHortScholar Class of 2019
"The HortScholars Program allowed me to pull up a chair with industry leaders and begin to see a future at that table.”
Marcus JansenHortScholar Class of 2019
"Being a HortScholar is a rich experience that you will remember and from which you will be remembered"
Coralie FarinasHortScholar Class of 2018
“The HortScholars program connected us with important figures in the industry.”
Daniel GreenwellHortScholar Class of 2017
“As a HortScholar, you gain valuable insight from industry members about how the real world works”
Kellie WaltersHortScholar Class of 2016
“Being a HortScholar and attending Cultivate was hands down the best experience I have had in my college career!”
Sayde HeckmanHortScholar Class of 2016
“If you enjoy teamwork, exercising your creativity, working with an amazing group of people, and getting a chance to make lifelong connections and friends... the HortScholars program is definitely for you.”
Nicholas FlaxHortScholar Class of 2014
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Get to Know The 2023 HortScholars

The AmericanHort HortScholars program sets students in horticulture on a path to success by exposing them to the breadth of the horticulture industry, its opportunities, and its leaders. The program offers a beyond-the-classroom experience, giving insight and awareness of the industry, its supply chain, and where the scholars might find a home for their passion. The focus of the program is on professional development, including attending educational sessions, networking, and working with industry mentors at Cultivate.

AmericanHort is pleased to present the 2023 HortScholars:

Armando Villa-Ignacio

Colorado State University
Armando Villa-Ignacio is currently a graduate student in the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture department at Colorado State University under Dr. Jennifer Bousselot. He is currently pursuing an M.S. with plans to pursue a Ph.D. shortly after. He is studying Rooftop Agrivoltaics and aims to make rooftop agrivoltaics open and accessible. He found his love of plants at a young age and has continued to cultivate that passion into a lifelong career. In his downtime, he has a passion for music, specifically barbershop music, and sings with the Barbershop Harmony Society with his chorus, the Sound of the Rockies, and his quartet, My Favorite Quartet.

Kaitlin Swiantek

University of Georgia
Kaitlin Swiantek is a Horticulture master’s student at the University of Georgia, working with Dr. John Ruter. Her research aims to breed Pycnanthemum (mountain mint) and add more information about the genus to the literature. Pycnanthemum is a pollinator-attractive plant with landscape-use potential. Kaitlin hopes introducing a pollinator-attractive plant into the landscape will draw attention to pollinator decline and help people support pollinators in their own communities. Kaitlin’s interest in horticulture began during her first year of college when she decided to take a plant and gardening class. The class introduced Kaitlin to ornamental breeding, a career that offered her the perfect mixture of art and science. She was captivated by ornamental breeding because it would allow her to explore scientific fields while feeding her creativity. Kaitlin loves horticulture because it is a versatile field that welcomes people from all professions, allowing for a diverse work environment and the opportunity to gain knowledge constantly. Kaitlin plans to continue merging ornamental breeding and pollinator conservation in her career as a plant breeder. She wants to cultivate plants that serve a role beyond aesthetics because a beautiful plant is great, but a beautiful plant that also improves society is even better.

Regan Draeger

The Ohio State University
Regan Draeger is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Plant Systems with a specialization in Horticulture, as well as her associate degree in Horticultural Science. She fell in love with horticulture after competing on her high school floriculture team, where she earned state and national titles. Afterward, she developed her own wedding design business. Regan also worked in several greenhouses over the past six years and recently interned with the Ohio State Master Gardener program, managing the online AskExtension platform. Regan is currently working as a landscape designer at Corso’s Landscape, while earning her master’s degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications from the University of Tennessee with plans to graduate in 2025. She hopes to become an active contributor and pacesetter in this industry by developing landscapes that push design boundaries sustainable for our environment, which is becoming increasingly vital to the industry.

Taylor DeLand

Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute

Taylor DeLand is a second-year student at Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute. She is graduating in May with an associate degree in Greenhouse and Nursery Management with a Greenhouse major. She loves horticulture for many reasons. The main reason being the joy she gets from working with plants and working hard to develop a quality crop for customers. She loves to watch her crop grow from a small plant to flowering for sale, and to see the excitement on customers faces. She has been working in horticulture for 4 years learning many different skills. Her journey started out by attending the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center, studying landscape and environmental design. She wants to start by being a head grower for a couple years in a large-scale greenhouse. In the future she hopes to start a retail greenhouse somewhere near her hometown. Her business will focus on growing either spring annuals or a hydroponic production.

Brandan Shur

North Carolina State University
Brandan Shur has always had a passion for horticulture. Growing up on his family orchard in the mountains of North Carolina, he started working on the farm from the moment he could walk. This experience gave him a deep appreciation for the environmental challenges that the fruit industry can face and sparked his interest in pursuing a career in horticulture. Brandan obtained a bachelor’s degree in Horticultural Science with a concentration in Production Systems and Entrepreneurship, along with minors in Plant Biology and Biological Sciences, from North Carolina State University. During his undergraduate studies, he gained research experience in the Horticultural Substrates Lab, where he became intrigued by soilless production and the innovative techniques used to engineer sustainable growing media. He continued his work with substrates by pursuing a master’s degree in the same field, focusing on developing and optimizing soilless substrates for container production systems for soft fruit. Brandan’s passion for horticulture stems from his desire to use innovative techniques and sustainable practices to address environmental challenges and improve food production. He hopes to continue pursuing his research goals as a researcher, with the ultimate goal of making a positive impact on the world through his work.

Hamilton Crockett

Virginia Tech
Growing up as an Air Force kid, Hamilton Crockett, had the opportunity to travel the world, experiencing unique cultures and landscapes. She grew-up with an appreciation for nature, whether that be through hiking, snorkeling, or skiing. It wasn’t until she had the opportunity to take an IB Environmental Science class where she learned she could transform her love for nature into a career. She received her B.S. in Crop and Soil Science from Virginia Tech with minors in Environmental Science, Chinese, and French. While there, she was able to conduct collaborative undergraduate research in Austria (w/ TU Wein) and Virginia (w/ Schmale Lab). Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree in plant pathology at Louisiana State University. Not only does she work in the LSU Plant Diagnostic Center (PDC), but she is conducting research at the PDC using molecular techniques to identify Oomycete species in woody ornamentals and trees across Louisiana. This research has already identified several unreported host associations, and this knowledge can be used in the mitigation of certain Oomycete infections for nurseries and homeowners. She is looking forward to working in the green industry investigating disease management/diagnosis, applying research to the field, and being involved in outreach.

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