Ohio Horticulture Scholarship

The Western Reserve Herb Society offers Plant Science scholarships.  These are open to students who have completed the second/sophomore year of undergraduate study and are enrolled in a bachelor’s degree. The applicants for these scholarships must be attending an accredited college or university and have achieved a grade point average of 3.2 or above.

The Western Reserve Herb Society Scholarship covers all accredited colleges and universities in the United States. There will be two (2) awards of $4,000 each.

The Frances Sylvia Zverina Scholarship is restricted to students studying at an accredited institution within the state of Ohio. All Ohio candidates are also automatically considered for the National Scholarship. There will be two (2) awards of $4,500 each.

Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate coursework in rigorous sciences,  exceptional dedication through outside experiences, and whose career goals may involve work in areas such as the public or nonprofit sector, education, sustainability, and research.

Students studying at a college or university in the state of Ohio are automatically considered for both the National AND the Ohio Scholarship.

Application Information

Personal Essays:

Submit two (2) separate essays adding anything else you consider to be pertinent to this application. Your name should appear as the header and in the subject line for each essay.

1. In your first essay discuss your qualifications for this merit scholarship and what you are doing to achieve your educational goals.
2. In your second essay describe your career and personal goals following graduation based on your academic major.

Please attach your essays using the Choose File buttons in the form.

One (1) Letter of Recommendation:

Forward one (1) letter of recommendation which must be from an instructor. Your name must appear in the subject line of the recommendation.

Please Send:

Official College Transcripts for ALL colleges attended are required. Official transcripts must be received by the deadline of February 28, 2026.

Arrange with your college’s Office of the Registrar to send all of your official transcripts to: scholarship@westernreserveherbsociety.org.  If your college does not have an electronic official transcript pathway ask the college to mail the official transcript to:

Western Reserve Herb Society

c/o Cleveland Botanical Garden

11030 East Blvd.

Cleveland, Ohio 44106

The application, essays, transcripts, and recommendation letter must all be received by February 28, 2026.