The National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. is delighted to present scholarships to four students for the 2022-23 academic year:
Calla Reidy is completing her Junior year at Warren Wilson College majoring in Environmental Studies. Her career goal is to be an environmental educator for young children. Calla works in the family landscaping business and volunteers with the Rowe Center as a camp counselor developing kid’s connection to nature and community.
Kana Furukawa, is a rising Senior at Berry College majoring in Environmental Science with Minors in Biology and Spanish. Her career goal is to find a position with a government agency like the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Park Service. She has a part-time job with Berry College grounds crew and the student-run Berry Bees Enterprise which keeps bees and sells their products. She is helping with vegetative monitoring in the Tongass National Forest this summer. Kana also received a National Garden Club Scholarship again this year.
Andrea Gaoat, is a Junior at Virginia Tech studying Landscape Architecture. She volunteers with The Neighborhood Design Center in Baltimore bringing architecture to Prince George’s County public school students. Andrea helps to maintain the gardens at her church. Last summer she had an internship at the Landscape Management Group in Crystal City.
Joseph Brian Meko, is a Global Environmental Politics graduate student at American University. He received a Global Environmental Policy undergraduate degree from Elon University. Upon graduation he is hoping to be part of the young professionals program for agencies such as the World Bank, World Food Programme, and UNESCO; a presidential management fellow for USDA or USAID; or a program manager for sustainable food initiatives at a large, conservation-focused nonprofit like the World Wildlife Fund.
Doug Essig, is a rising Freshman who will be going to NOVA Community College this fall. He plans to transfer to a 4 year university to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture. Doug received the Science & Environmental Seal for completing 50 hours of science and environmental service by volunteering at the Presidential Greenhouse at George Mason University.
Srija Upadhyay, will be a rising Freshman at the College of William and Mary studying general biology with an emphasis in ornithology. She won several Science Olympiad awards in ornithology and has enjoyed birding with her local club. Srija plans to work with The Center for Conservation Biology–a research organization with a large emphasis on ornithology–to gain expertise in fieldwork and promote avian conservation efforts.
