Elmhurst Garden Club March Meeting --- Meet the Scholars

The Elmhurst Garden Club will host a "Meet the Scholars" luncheon at its Monday, March 2 meeting which will begin at 11:15 a.m. at the Wilder Mansion, 211 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst.    Current winners of the Mildred Hartney scholarship will discuss their horticulture and environmental science projects, including their latest research as part of the program.

This year, the Elmhurst Garden club has awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships to seven college students:  Donna Bonilla, Illinois Wesleyan; Karen Dvorak, College of DuPage; Michelle Falesch, Benedictine University; Wes Krug, University of Wisconsin-Platteville; Cecelia Long, Illinois State University; Ashley Pales, Northern Illinois University; and Lauryn Smith, Elmhurst College. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,500.

The monies raised have come primarily from the proceeds of the Garden Walk which is held the second Sunday of July and sponsored by the Elmhurst Garden Club. Since 1999, the Garden Club has awarded more than $90,000 to worthy students.

Award recipients have expressed gratitude for their scholarships. Some of their responses include, "You have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school--learning. Your generosity has inspired me to help others." "I would like to dedicate my life to helping people and the planet in finding sustainable and balanced lifestyles." "Your generosity is touching and has inspired me to continue my path of giving." "I am very blessed indeed to be able to pursue my great love of plants and the world of horticulture."

This program will be taped by cable television under the direction of Joseph Piscetelli, City of Elmhurst communications director. It will be aired in spring 2015. 

Applications for the Mildred Hartney Scholarship are available on the Elmhurst Garden Clubs website, www.elmhurstgardenclub.org.  The next deadline is May 1, 2015.