Two Trent students are the beneficiaries of a local organization’s desire to invest in the future.

At the Peterborough Horticultural Society’s monthly meeting on November 26, two deserving Trent second-year students, Monica Fromberger and Jonathan Duffy, are each to be presented with a $1,000 scholarships to support their education in the field of horticulture.

“I am honored and grateful to have won the Peterborough Horticultural Society scholarship. It is rewarding to be recognized for experiences where I have learned more about nature and our environment,” said Ms. Fromberger, who is currently in her second year of Trent’s Environmental & Resource Studies/Science program, having completed year one on the Dean’s List. “Winning this scholarship will assist me to continue my education at Trent University studying ways to conserve our natural environment. I would like to sincerely thank the Peterborough Horticultural Society for this award.”

Ms. Fromberger is being recognized for her involvement with the Environmental Sustainability Living Learning Community at Trent, discovering various healthy environment topics together with other members.  She has maintained a plot at the Community Garden in Oshawa, growing vegetables from seeds she acquired at Peterborough’s Seedy Sunday. She has also volunteered at the Feathered Friends Festival in Oshawa. A youth committee member on the Durham Environmental Advisory Committee, Ms. Fromberger has competed in the Durham Envirothon. She hopes to use her degree from Trent to help protect our natural environment for future generations.

The second recipient of a scholarship, Jonathan Duffy, is a second year student in the new Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems program at Trent.  He lives on an organic farm just outside Peterborough where he is learning first-hand the different techniques of organic farming.  He volunteers at the Trent vegetable gardens at the University and has also volunteered as a tree-planter and is a full participant in the Trent Sustainable Agriculture and Food Safety Society Club.

“First, I would like thank the Peterborough Horticulture society for this scholarship. It will provide a great opportunity for me to connect with the community in Peterborough. My thinking is that this is only the start for me. Along with other Agriculture and Horticulture students, we will strengthen our ties to the initiatives of this community through groups like the Peterborough Horticultural Society and others on the city.  Together, we can help you build a bigger and stronger gardening and farming community in this city,” said Mr. Duffy, who hopes to make use of his horticulture knowledge after graduation by operating an urban farm or working with small not-for-profit organizations to help to integrate mini-farms and gardens into urban environments.

With the proceeds for the Peterborough Garden Show and other fundraising efforts, the Peterborough Horticultural Society offers these scholarships to qualifying students at Trent and Fleming College who are studying horticulture or horticulture-related fields. Since 2002, the Peterborough Horticultural Society has been proud to award almost $150,000 in scholarships and community development grants to deserving students and community groups.  Further information about PHS scholarships and grants can be found at:  http://www.peterboroughgardens.ca/Showspending.html

Posted on Monday, November 24, 2014.