USA Scholarships
Stan and Mary Stark Alumni Scholarship 2026
The Stan and Mary Stark Alumni Scholarship supports National Junior Horticultural Association members who want to come back to the NJHA convention after they have already attended once. Youth ages 15 through 22 may apply if they plan to return to expand their horticultural learning. The NJHA Alumni Association may award up to three scholarships that cover registration for the current year''s convention, continuing a fund Stan and Mary Stark started in 2005 and the Alumni sustain through an annual auction. Send a recommendation from an NJHA leader in your state, your résumé, and a letter with paragraphs on NJHA involvement, 4-H or FFA or agricultural activities, school and work activities, and financial need. Email materials to Stan and Mary Stark before 22 September 2026. Only one scholarship per family per year.
What is the Stan and Mary Stark Alumni Scholarship?
National Junior Horticultural Association conventions pack contests, networking, and plant science learning into a few intense days. Registration fees add up fast, especially if you travel from another region. Stan and Mary Stark started sponsoring youth in 2005, and the NJHA Alumni Association kept the tradition alive through an annual auction that feeds scholarship dollars.
You are not eligible on your first trip. The Stark scholarship assumes you already know what NJHA feels like and want a second or third convention to go deeper. Ages fifteen through twenty-two match NJHA's youth lane, and the Alumni may pick up to three registrants each year.
The application is old-school email, not a slick portal. That means clarity beats design. Your state leader letter should sound specific, your résumé should list horticulture contests, and your personal letter needs honest paragraphs about money, not just accolades.
September 22, 2026 is the cutoff. If two siblings in your household both qualify, coordinate ahead of time because NJHA allows only one family award per year. Pair this scholarship with other NJHA contest prep so the convention you attend on scholarship still showcases your best horticulture work.
Eligibility
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✓Age 15 through 22Applicants must fall within the youth age range NJHA lists for this alumni scholarship.
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✓Attended at least one NJHA conventionYou need a prior NJHA convention on your record and a plan to return to the next convention to keep learning.
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✓Planning to return to the NJHA conventionThe scholarship targets members who will register for the current year's convention, not one-time visitors who will not return.
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✓One scholarship per family per yearNJHA limits the award to one scholarship per family in a given year even if multiple siblings qualify.
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✓Complete application packetInclude the state NJHA leader recommendation, résumé, and applicant letter covering all required topics.
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✓Financial need consideredExplain financial barriers in your letter. Stan and Mary Stark began the fund to help youth who struggled with convention costs.
Benefits
- Convention registration Current year NJHA convention registration costs
- Number of awards Up to three qualified applicants per year
- Travel and lodging Not specified; registration focus only
- Multiple family awards One scholarship per family per year
- Tuition at college Convention support, not general tuition
Document checklist
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✓Letter of support from a state NJHA leaderAsk an NJHA leader in your state to recommend you and describe your involvement and character.
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✓Applicant résuméSummarize horticulture activities, leadership roles, jobs, and school achievements on one or two pages.
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✓Applicant letter with four sectionsWrite at least one paragraph each on NJHA involvement, 4-H/FFA or agriculture activities, school and work involvement, and financial need.
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✓Electronic submission to Stan and Mary StarkEmail the packet before 22 September 2026 using contact details published on njha.org.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Stan and Mary Stark Alumni Scholarship?
It is an NJHA Alumni scholarship that pays convention registration for up to three youth ages 15 through 22 who have attended a prior NJHA convention and plan to return.
Who is eligible for the Stan and Mary Stark Alumni Scholarship?
NJHA youth who are 15 to 22, have been to at least one NJHA convention, and will attend again may apply with a complete packet. Only one scholarship per family is allowed each year.
When is the Stan and Mary Stark Alumni Scholarship deadline?
NJHA instructs applicants to submit materials electronically to Stan and Mary Stark before 22 September 2026.
What does the Stan and Mary Stark Alumni Scholarship cover?
The Alumni Association may award up to three applicants funding for the current year's NJHA convention registration costs. Travel and lodging are not described in the official summary.
What should I include in my Stan and Mary Stark application letter?
Write at least one paragraph each on NJHA involvement, 4-H/FFA or related agriculture activities, school and work experiences, and financial need.
Do I need a recommendation for the Stan and Mary Stark Alumni Scholarship?
Yes. NJHA requires a letter of support from an NJHA leader in your state plus a résumé and your applicant letter.
Can more than one sibling win the Stan and Mary Stark scholarship?
No. NJHA limits the award to one scholarship per family per year.
How do I contact Stan and Mary Stark about the scholarship?
NJHA publishes Stan and Mary Stark's phone and email on the officer requirements page at njha.org. Use those details to submit your electronic packet or ask questions.
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