The West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association (WVNLA) Marcus W. Rennix Memorial Scholarship program is accepting applications for Mountain State students studying horticulture, landscape architecture, and nursery and greenhouse management. The deadline for applications to be submitted is September 30, 2025.

Julie Robinson, WVNLA executive director, said students must be in-state residents who have completed half the required courses in ornamental horticulture or landscape architecture and maintained at least a 2.5 grade point average. She said applicants are typically college juniors or seniors, and each scholarship awarded is $5,000.

Robert “Bobby” Gompers, President of the WVNLA board and owner of Highland Landscaping in Buckhannon, said, “Supporting and mentoring West Virginians — regardless of where they study – to excel in our green industry profession is a priority for the nursery and landscape industry. Our board and membership are focused on recruiting, retaining and promoting the best talent, and this scholarship is a tangible commitment to meeting that goal.”

Gompers said a few WVNLA board members earned the scholarship when they were students, and now they are leaders in the industry. He cited Jason Testman of Valley Gardens in Charleston, and Michael Biafore and Patrick Biafore of Biafore Landscape Development in Morgantown.

Testman, Vice President of WVNLA, said his scholarship was very helpful to completing his education. “We want to give juniors and seniors in our profession a financial boost and lend a hand with mentoring so they can join our ranks in the growing green industry,” said Testman.

Robinson encourages eligible students who meet the criteria to apply for the educational funds. Information can be found at WVNLA’s website: https://wvnla.org/scholarships/. She said scholarship winners will be recognized at the association’s Winter Symposium being held in Charleston on February 18, 2026.