Two students in the Landscape and Horticulture program at Dakota County Technical College recently received scholarships sponsored by the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) Foundation. Scholarship recipients are Ross Pirlet and Darren Peters.
The MNLA scholarship program recognizes superior students enrolled in horticultural, nursery or landscape studies programs at several area colleges and universities. The scholarships are designed by MNLA and its member companies to help grow future leaders in the nursery and landscape industry.
Two MNLA member firms co-sponsored the scholarships for the Dakota County Technical College students. Bachman’s Nursery Wholesale, based in Farmington, sponsored the scholarship for Pirlet. The Hoffman and McNamara Foundation, based in Hastings, sponsored the scholarship for Peters.
To be eligible for an MNLA scholarship, applicants must possess a “C” grade average or better, present letters of recommendation from instructors and employers, and submit an essay stating their career goals and objectives.
Dakota County Technical College has been training students for employment in the green industry since 1971 with about 50 students entering the program each year. They have a 95% success rate of placing students in related employment within one year of their graduation. With the success of the program, DCTC is looking to construct a new greenhouse facility and is actively seeking funding and donations for the project.
The Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association is the state’s largest green industry trade association with over 1,500 member companies. Members include nurseries, garden centers, landscape contractors, landscape designers, irrigation contractors, commercial flower growers, tree care specialists, professional gardening services, and turf and landscape management professionals.
