Horticulture major receives national intern scholarship

Monday, May 23, 2016

Fran Benne | Design and Communications Specialist

Jaclyn Nelson
Jaclyn Nelson, photo courtesy UNL Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program

University of Nebraska-Lincoln horticulture major, Jaclyn Nelson, is one of three students in the nation to be awarded a 2016 Mosmiller Internship from the American Floral Endowment. AFE also presented intern scholarships to Loren Marie Anthony, University of Arkansas, and Kailey Brooks, University of Missouri.

Recipients are floriculture/environmental horticulture or business program students at a two- or four-year college university in the United States with a recognized floriculture program and demonstrate outstanding potential and serious interest in a floral industry field.

“The Mosmiller Internship is giving me the opportunity to work for some of the best professionals in the industry,” Nelson said. “An experience like this will provide me with skills that will last a lifetime.”

The Mosmiller Internship Program allows interns to train at leading retail, wholesale or allied trade operations for a period of 10-16 weeks, gaining valuable on-the-job work experience. Interns are paid by the employer during training, and upon successful completion of the program, receive a $2,000 cash scholarship.

The AFE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the floriculture and horticulture industry through funding research, educational grants and scholarships. Beginning in 1975, with earnings from a bequest by the late Colonel and Mrs. Walter E. Mosmiller Jr., this program has provided quality professional training for motivated floriculture and environmental horticulture students.

Nelson, who hails from Wallace, Nebraska, and has a passion for both flowers and entrepreneurship, is interning this summer at Bachman's in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She said she’s excited about working for a company that will help her learn about how a floral business can grow and thrive in this industry.

Nelson, who will be a UNL senior this fall, is involved with the UNL Horticulture Club and serves as vice president for Pi Alpha Xi, Alpha-Gamma Chapter—the National Honor Society for Horticulture. She is advised by UNL Agronomy and Horticulture Associate Professor of Practice David Lambe.

“The combination of classes at UNL in horticulture and the Engler Entrepreneurship Program have provided me the experience and knowledge I need to step into this internship,” Nelson said. “I will get the opportunity to become a better floral designer, but equally important, I will learn through observation, how to manage people and a business.”

The feeling is mutual from Minneapolis Bachman store manager LuVerne Verhoeven, who says they anticipate learning from Nelson as well and look forward to a great summer of information exchange.

“Bachman's is excited to have Jaclyn join our staff as an intern this summer and we're anxious to share retail store operations at our flagship store, Bachman's on Lyndale," Verhoeven said.

Nelson has already assisted with a floral design workshop at the Minneapolis store and will have the opportunity to experience how Bachman's take floral orders, as well as produce product to fill those orders.

For more information about AFE intern scholarships for students in floriculture or horticulture go to http://endowment.org/internships.

 

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