VMGA Diane Relf Scholarship Guidelines

Virginia Master Gardener Association 2023

Diane Relf Extension Master Gardener College

Scholarship Nominations

Overview

The Virginia Master Gardener Association (VMGA) is accepting nominations for the Diane Relf Extension Master Gardener College (EMGC) 2023 Scholarship.

The Scholarship recognizes those volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional potential in their local Units, and it is part of VMGA’s educational mission. It’s awarded to deserving Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) to help them in their continuing education efforts through attendance at EMGC and to increase the number of EMGs able to attend the conference. Any interested active EMG is eligible for nomination; financial need is not a required criterion. (Trainees, interns, and prior VMGA Scholarship recipients are not eligible.) This year’s Scholarships are intended to cover most of the costs to attend EMGC.

Nominations are accepted through midnight April 30, 2023. VCE Agents or Coordinators may nominate up to two (2) active EMGs from their Unit who are attending EMGC 2023. Volunteers are encouraged to complete the application and forward it to their Agents or Coordinators for nomination.

Agents or Coordinators may submit the completed application through email.

Beginning May 1, 2023, the Scholarship Committee will review applications and vote to choose recipients. The Committee is composed of VMGA members in Units across the Commonwealth, including some prior Scholarship recipients.

Agents, Coordinators, and recipients receive notification of Scholarship awards by May 15th. Scholarship checks will be awarded to recipients at the annual VMGA meeting during EMGC. (After initial award notification, if an award recipient requires funds upfront to register for EMGC, they may contact the Virginia State Master Gardener Coordinator, Kathleen Reed, at reedka@vt.edu, to coordinate those arrangements.)

If you would like a copy of the application emailed to you, or if you have any questions, please contact the Scholarship Committee Chair, Jill Lewis, at VMGAScholarship@gmail.com.

Guidelines

Possible Nominees are those who:

  1. Demonstrate the VCE Master Gardener Program’s core values of respect, accountability, and collaboration.
  2. Exhibit a desire to contribute to the VCE Master Gardener Program.
  3. Serve as a role model to other volunteers.
  4. Hold, have held, or demonstrate potential to hold leadership roles. This may include Unit, local association, or VMGA roles, such as committee chairs, team leaders, association officers, project leads, etc.
  5. Make contributions that meet the needs of VCE.
  6. May be diverse in any category.
  7. Have other information they or the nominators would like considered but which are not criteria. This may include awards/recognitions received, desire to use EMGC training to educate others, how attendance at EMGC would further Unit goals or efforts, financial need (kept confidential), etc.

Additional Details:

  1. EMGC Scholarship is a VMGA budget line item, with additional funds provided by donations.
  2. The Scholarship is open to all active VCE MGs. Interns and trainees are not eligible for nomination.
  3. Recipients may receive a VMGA Scholarship only once throughout their service to the VCE MG Program.
  4. VMGA is free of any liability related to this Scholarship.
  5. Recipients bear any tax liability for receiving a Scholarship; and
  6. Recipients may be featured in articles and promotions about the Scholarship.

How to Apply:

  1. Nominees may assist their Nominator (VCE Agent or Coordinator) with the application.
  1. Nominator may submit application by through the VMGA website.
  1. Nominators will receive confirmation of application receipt within three days.

 

Diane Relf Extension Master Gardener College 2023 Scholarship Application

  • Membership is not required
  • If you have any questions, please contact the Scholarship Committee Chair, Jill Lewis, at VMGAScholarship@gmail.com. Nominator may submit application by through the VMGA website. Nominators will receive confirmation of application receipt within three days. Agents, Coordinators, and recipients will be notified of Scholarship awards by May 15th.