USA Scholarships
Frances Sylvia Zverina Horticulture Scholarship 2027
The Frances Sylvia Zverina Horticulture Scholarship 2027 supports Ohio undergraduates who have finished sophomore year and study plant sciences or allied fields at accredited in-state colleges. Western Reserve Herb Society, affiliated with the Herb Society of America, grants two $4,500 awards each cycle. You need at least a 3.2 GPA, two separate personal essays, one instructor recommendation, and official transcripts for every college attended. Ohio applicants are automatically considered for the unit''s two $4,000 national scholarships as well. Materials must reach [email protected] or the Cleveland Botanical Garden mailing address by 28 February 2027. Reviewers favor rigorous science coursework, hands-on horticulture experience, and career plans in education, sustainability, research, or nonprofit work.
What is the Frances Sylvia Zverina Horticulture Scholarship 2027?
Western Reserve Herb Society keeps a Cleveland garden tradition alive by funding plant scientists who might otherwise patch together part-time nursery wages and tuition bills. The Frances Sylvia Zverina Scholarship honors a namesake donor and restricts dollars to Ohio campuses, which makes it one of the few Herb Society of America unit awards where state boundaries are explicit. Two students receive $4,500 each year, and the same application also puts Ohio juniors and seniors in the pool for two national $4,000 WRHS grants.
The paperwork is old-school on purpose. You write two essays instead of one, line up an instructor reference, and chase official transcripts from every college you ever attended. Everything has to land by 28 February 2027, and WRHS will not treat a postmark as on time if the committee cannot read your files. Reviewers look for more than a love of herbs. They want rigorous science classes, field hours that prove you can grow or study plants in real conditions, and career plans aimed at education, sustainability, research, or nonprofit work.
If you are stacking horticulture awards, compare this Ohio-only fund with the Katharine M. Grosscup Horticulture Scholarship, which serves several Midwest states through the Garden Club of America. The official WRHS page lives at westernreserveherbsociety.org/scholarships, and the Herb Society of America regional listing at herbsociety.org points back to the same unit.
Eligibility
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✓Completed sophomore year of a bachelor's programYou must have finished the second year of undergraduate study and remain enrolled in a bachelor's degree track in plant sciences or a related major.
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✓Attending an accredited Ohio institutionThe Zverina fund is limited to accredited colleges and universities located in Ohio. Students at Ohio schools may also compete for WRHS national awards without a second application.
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✓Minimum 3.2 cumulative GPAWestern Reserve Herb Society expects a 3.2 GPA or higher on your official college transcripts.
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✓Plant sciences or related majorEligible fields include horticulture, botany, landscape design, environmental plant science, and similar disciplines described on the WRHS scholarships page.
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✓Demonstrated dedication beyond courseworkReviewers weigh internships, research, garden work, and service that show you will use the award in education, sustainability, research, or public-sector plant work.
Benefits
- Award amount Two grants of $4,500 each
- Geographic scope Ohio accredited institutions only
- Dual consideration Also reviewed for $4,000 national WRHS awards
- Preference factors Science rigor, field experience, public-good careers
- Full tuition coverage Not offered
- Graduate study Undergraduate juniors and seniors only
Document checklist
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✓Two separate personal essaysEssay one explains your qualifications and steps toward educational goals. Essay two describes career and personal goals after graduation. Put your name in each header and subject line.
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✓One instructor recommendation letterAsk a college instructor to email a recommendation with your name in the subject line to [email protected].
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✓Official transcripts from every college attendedRegistrar offices must send official transcripts electronically to [email protected] or by mail to WRHS at Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106.
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✓WRHS online application formComplete the application on westernreserveherbsociety.org and attach essays through the provided upload buttons.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Frances Sylvia Zverina Horticulture Scholarship?
It is a Western Reserve Herb Society award named for Frances Sylvia Zverina that pays $4,500 to two Ohio undergraduates studying plant sciences or related fields. WRHS is a unit of the Herb Society of America based in the Cleveland area.
Who is eligible for the Zverina scholarship in Ohio?
You must have completed sophomore year, hold at least a 3.2 GPA, and attend an accredited Ohio college or university in a plant sciences or related bachelor's program.
When is the Frances Sylvia Zverina scholarship deadline?
WRHS requires the application, both essays, the instructor recommendation, and official transcripts by 28 February 2027 for the 2027-2028 academic year cycle.
Can I win both the Zverina and WRHS national scholarships?
Ohio students are automatically considered for both the Ohio-only Zverina awards and the two $4,000 national Western Reserve Herb Society scholarships with one application packet.
How do I send official transcripts to WRHS?
Have each registrar email official transcripts to [email protected] or mail paper copies to Western Reserve Herb Society, c/o Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
What majors qualify for the Zverina horticulture scholarship?
Plant sciences and closely related majors such as horticulture, botany, landscape design, and environmental plant science qualify when your coursework and career goals align with WRHS mission.
How many Zverina scholarships are awarded each year?
WRHS grants two $4,500 awards annually for Ohio institutions, separate from two $4,000 national awards.
Who should I contact about the Zverina application?
Email [email protected] or text 216-387-6646 with questions. General Herb Society of America pages list WRHS as the administering unit for this fund.
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