All posts by klongacre

Winter Poinsettia Sale is BACK! Nov 28 and 30

The Horticulture  Club’s annual Winter Poinsettia Sale is BACK!

This year we even have exciting news! We’re partnering with the NOVA Loudoun Campus Parking Office to offer credit and debit card transactions for the first time ever! That’s right! No more worrying about remembering the exact amount in cash or forgetting your checkbook!

From 11 am to 5 pm on 11/28 and 11/30 , the Loudoun Campus Greenhouse located at 46447 Ankers Shop Cir, Sterling, VA 20164 will be open to the public for general sale.

This year we have 16 premium and unique varieties, some of which won’t be found anywhere else in the area! Each 6.5″ pot is $10 and includes a hand wrapped decorative pot foil, a support stake, a protective paper sleeve, and care instructions. All profits go towards the Horticulture Club’s participation in the 2024 Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival as well as  supporting education in Horticulture.

For more information contact the Horticulture Club via DM on Instagram or Facebook, or by email at hortclubnvcc@gmail.com 

@NVCCHortClub on Instagram
NVCC Horticulture Club on Facebook

Internships- Earth Sangha

The amazing Native Plant Heroes at Earth Sangha have just announced two internship opportunities for 2024!

The first is the 2024 Full Season Native Plant Conservation Internship. There is one available position for this opportunity, and responsibilities include working in Wild Plant Nursery, removing invasives in restoration sites, assistant supervising of volunteers, and the potential for field work throughout the region! This position is January through December with a schedule of about 20 hours a week at $16 an hour.

The second is the 2024 Summer Native Plant Conservation Internship. There are two available positions for this opportunity and responsibilities include working in Wild Plant Nursery, removing invasives in restoration sites, assistant supervising of volunteers, and the potential for field work throughout the region! This position is June through August with a schedule of about 20 hours a week at $16 an hour.

If you’re interested in applying, please email a CV and optional cover letter to Matt Bright at mbright@earthsangha.org.  Fellow NOVA Horticulture Student and Earth Sangha Conservation Coordinator, Michaelanne Makuch can also be reached for more information regarding the positions at mmakuch@earthsangha.org

Scroll to the “openings” header for more information on the Earth Sangha website
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Nova Partnership Provides Support for Dreamers. Scholarship App Opens Today

Originally Submitted to the Daily Flyer by: Debbie Wyne, Interim AVP of Enrollment Svcs, DWyne@nvcc.edu

TheDream.US is more than just a scholarship program for students wishing to attend college. TheDream.US is an organization that also provides college and career guidance to undocumented immigrant students, also known as Dreamers, who attend one of more than 80 partner colleges.

NOVA came on board as a partner college early in the growth of this organization. This partnership has allowed for more than 100 undocumented students (with or without DACA or TPS) to attend NOVA over the past nine years, with many of those students later transferring to George Mason University and other partner colleges. These scholars have been supported by NOVA’s Monica Gomez (LO), a longtime NOVA employee who was designated as the scholar advisor to these scholarship recipients. Monica’s role is to support and assist them in planning their degrees at NOVA. She also serves as the liaison between TheDream.US and NOVA to ensure that the college receives the students’ funds to cover their tuition and fees each semester. The scholarship is open to students who:

  • Came to the U.S. before November 1, 2018, and are undocumented,
  • Entered the U.S. before the age of 16,
  • Have significant unmet financial need,
  • Have graduated or will graduate from a U.S. high school,
  • Graduated with GPA of 2.5 or higher,
  • Are eligible for in-state tuition, and
  • Intend to enroll full time in an associate or bachelor’s degree program.

The application cycle is open beginning today, November 1, and runs through February 29, 2024. Students will be notified in late April 2024 if they were selected as a recipient of the scholarship. Students can find more information about the scholarship at www.thedream.us.

Student Success Funds Available Beginning Today

Originally submitted to the Daily Flyer by Jenn Bristow, Development Manager, NOVA Foundation, JBristow@nvcc.edu

NOVA and the NOVA Educational Foundation are pleased to announce the new Student Success Fund, available today! This important fund was established to assist students facing unexpected emergency expenses that would otherwise force them to stop out or drop out from their educational journey.

The NOVA Foundation has invested $250,000 in this inaugural year. Students in need can apply for support through this portal. All applications will go through blind review so students’ personal circumstances can remain anonymous. The portal will remain open to receive applications through the academic year as long as funds are available.

Students can apply for one of two categories of support:

Student Success Emergency Grants
Emergency grants are just-in-time funding for NOVA students who experience a sudden, unexpected and short-term emergency that threatens their ability to continue their education. Grant awards are up to $1,000. Payments are sent directly to the creditor on behalf of a student who has been approved for support. For example, payments may be made to a utility company, medical provider, auto repair business, apartment complex, etc.

Student Success Scholarships
Student Success Scholarships fund up to 15 credits of in-state tuition for an associate degree, career studies certificate, certificate or professional credential. Priority will be given to students within 6 credits of graduation who might otherwise not be able to complete their education.

Before applying for Student Success Funds, students must document what other avenues of support they have explored at NOVA. Student Success Fund grants and scholarships are intended to be the final resource for students after other means of financial assistance have been exhausted. Read the complete list of criteria and some frequently asked questions for details.

“NOVA is a bright beacon of opportunity for our students and for our community,” said Anne M. Kress, president of NOVA. “As we can see across our region, the need is not going away. We’ve heard from our students that the impact of inflation has been devastating. The impact of a dramatically higher cost of living has been devastating to so many of them. These are the funds that help them move forward.”

“We challenge our NOVA Community to share this opportunity with our Nighthawks in need and encourage them to apply,” said Kelly Persons, executive director of the NOVA Educational Foundation. “This OneNOVA initiative will require all of us to take on the role of advocate and communicator to ensure that all NOVA students know about this critical program and how it serves the College’s commitment to a culture of caring.”

The Student Success Fund is made possible through the generosity of a host of community partners and donors. This initiative demonstrates our collective commitment to OneNOVA. The Fund was designed by and will be implemented through a broad partnership of NOVA departments, including Student Affairs; Enterprise IT; the Office of Strategic Insights; the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; NOVA Communications and Marketing; and countless individual staff and faculty members.

Groundskeeper- Columbia Gardens Cemetery

Columbia Gardens Cemetery located in Arlington, VA is looking for a groundskeeper! If you’ve taken Anders’ History of Garden Design- you’ll already know that cemeteries are the backbone of Modern American Greenspaces.  Now’s your chance to keep the legacy alive! Columbia Gardens Cemetery is a Level 2 Abroetum that has gardens open to the public as well as an activities center for guests! The job scope includes maintenance, site preparation and installation, and is a year-round opportunity!

Interested Individuals can submit their Resume and other information to Wally Frankland (Grounds
/Quality Control Manager) at: wallyfrankland@gmail.com or call him for questions at 703-459-7326

For More Information about the Cemetery: Visit
https://www.columbiagardenscemetery.org/

Groundskeeper- Columbia Gardens Cemetery

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STEM Scholarships- Virginia Space Grant Consortium

Are you looking for extra funding for your education? Well the Virginia Space Grant Consortium has $2,000 worth of scholarship money that could go to you! Eligibility requirements are:

  • US Citizenship
  • Full-time enrollment (12 credit hours) during the award period at a Virginia Community College
  • Completed at least 9 credit hours at the time of application
  • Must be majoring in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer, or Math)
  • Grade Point Average of at least 3.0
  • Must be graduating in May 2025 or Later
  • Able to attend a Webinar

Please note that Allied Health Science majors are not eligible for this scholarship

The Deadline to apply is March 8th 2024, so you have time to work on your application! If you’re interested, please visit the website for more information and to complete the 2024 to 2025 online application:  https://vsgc.odu.edu/communitycollegescholarships/
You can also email vsgc@odu.edu for more information

STEM Community College Scholarships 2024-2025

Continue reading STEM Scholarships- Virginia Space Grant Consortium

Events!

Are you looking for something to do over the upcoming fall break except homework? Well, the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council has you covered! On October 10th and 11th  from 9am to 4pm, they will be hosting Ranching for Profit Workshops. The workshop will be held in Waynesboro at the Best Western Waynesboro, VA.
Registration must be received to secure your place in these workshops, so don’t hesitate! Attend 1 day for $100 or both for $150! The 2-day registration includes a year membership with the VFGC, a book titled ‘The Turnaround” by rancher and instructor Dave Pratt, and a locally sourced lunch!

You can register for the event here: https://vaforages.org/event/2023-vfgc-ranching-for-profit-workshop/

For more information check out the informational flyer: 2023-VFGC-Ranching-for-Profit-Workshop-1

If you’re looking to get into agriculture but you don’t feel ready to start thinking about ranching, then the Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry has you covered! On October 23rd from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm in Petersburg, VA, they will be hosting a Farm Finance and Conservation Planning Seminar! This is a FREE networking event for beginner farmers with the aim to help discover farm financing options and cost-share conservation options.

To register for the Farm and FInance Conservation Planning Seminar, register by October 19th 2023 by emailing Josie.Rao@Governor.Virginia.Gov

 

 

 

Horticulture Haunt is 19 days away!!

It’s finally October!

You know what that means! Horticulture Haunt is only 19 days away!

To get into the spooky spirit for Horticulture Haunt, we will be holding a planning meeting on Thursday, October 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. in LS 114. In this planning meeting, we will make decorations for the Horticulture Study Room (LS106) and the event room(LS114). We will also make a wishlist for items we would like to have at Horticulture Haunt on Tuesday, October 24th, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in LS 114. (the time was adjusted to reflect the availability of the event space)

This also serves as a reminder to RSVP if you haven’t already: https://forms.gle/x4pDADvDjoVVLby9A 

The RSVP makes sure that we have the appropriate amount of materials for everyone to participate so it is required! Also, if you plan on bringing a non-club member guest with you, please have them fill out the RSVP form as well. Club membership is not required to participate, but it is required to win prizes from either contest.

At the planning meeting, we will also be discussing an exciting new addition to the Horticulture Club Fall 2023 lineup of events!

Oak Spring Garden Foundation Field Trip on Friday, November 10th from 10 am to 1 pm. OSGF has extended an offer for the Horticulture Club to come and take a tour of Bunny Mellon’s walled garden, greenhouse, and cut flower garden led by Garden Manager Allissa Montgomery! This amazing opportunity will be free for club members and up to one guest, but we’re only allowed to bring 15 people total so RSVP ASAP to secure your spot!

If you already know you want to go, you can RSVP here: https://forms.gle/vv4Um2x53s66F6Uw9

If you have friends who would like to join the Horticulture Club, we will have sign-up opportunities at both the planning meeting, and Horticulture Haunt, or they can fill out the membership form beforehand: https://forms.gle/ScQ4pBELjxPTi2Di6

If you have any questions in the meantime feel free to reach out via email, DM us on Instagram or Facebook, or email the faculty advisor and treasurer Kyra Longacre (klongacre@nvcc.edu)

Hope to see y’all soon 🙂

Scholarships- Garden Club of America

If you’re looking for a scholarship opportunity to help you with the rising costs of tuition… look no further than the Garden Club of America. Not only do they have a LOT of available scholarships, but they’re all for horticulture or related fields. So no worrying about applying for something you won’t even qualify for! Not only that, but they also offer a wide variety of undergrad and post graduate scholarship options! Whether you’re interested in field botany, ecological restoration, native plants, or anything else there’s bound to be a scholarship for you!

GCA Scholarships, Horticulture, Botany, Conservation, Landscape Architecture, Garden Design (gcamerica.org)

Continue reading Scholarships- Garden Club of America

Orchid Exhibit Internship- Smithsonian Gardens

One of the most prestigious institutions in the country has reached out to us here at NVCC Horticulture to find interns for an upcoming internship opportunity… If you’ve ever been to downtown DC you probably already know who I’m talking about. That’s right THE Smithsonian Gardens is looking to find an intern for their Orchid Exhibit. This opportunity provides an intern with experience managing and caring for the Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection (SGOC), including exhibition, public programming, social media management, daily collection care, collections management, and interior plant maintenance.

The application deadline is coming up so don’t hesitate to apply if you’re interested!

Orchid Exhibit Internship – Smithsonian Gardens (si.edu)

https://solaa.si.edu/solaa/#/public

Continue reading Orchid Exhibit Internship- Smithsonian Gardens