Usrey Family Scholarship

The Usrey Family Scholarship reflects a multigenerational commitment to horticulture and industry leadership. Established by the Usrey family, the fund supports students pursuing green industry careers and encourages long-term engagement within the profession.

This scholarship continues the family’s tradition of supporting education, opportunity, and professional growth as essential elements of a strong and sustainable horticulture industry.

About the HRI Scholarship Program

The HRI Scholarship Program includes multiple scholarship funds, each established by donors with unique interests and preferences. HRI offers a common application that allows eligible students to be considered for multiple scholarship opportunities through a single submission. HRI has also partnered with the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund to allow eligible applicants to be considered for their scholarship through this same application.

HRI scholarships are funded by industry donors investing in the following areas:

• nursery and greenhouse production
• landscape businesses
• garden retail businesses
• ornamental plant breeding and propagation
• horticulture-related business, sales, and supply chain roles
• applied research or extension that directly supports environmental/ornamental horticulture

Eligibility Overview: Who Should Apply

While individual scholarship funds may have additional preferences or criteria, all HRI scholarships share minimum eligibility requirements.

Eligible Degree Programs

HRI scholarships are intended for students pursuing horticulture or closely related degrees. Programs commonly considered horticulture degrees include:

• Horticulture
• Horticultural Science
• Nursery or Greenhouse Management or Production
• Landscape Design, Construction, or Management
• Ornamental Horticulture
• Sustainable Horticulture

Closely related degrees may also be considered when applicants clearly demonstrate how their education is applied within the horticulture industry. Examples include:

• Plant Science
• Plant Pathology
• Landscape Architecture
• Forestry
• Business or Marketing (when directly applied to horticulture businesses or industry roles)

Applicants pursuing closely related degrees must clearly articulate how their coursework, experiences, and career goals demonstrate a direct and practical application within the horticulture industry.

Academic Requirements

• Minimum GPA: ≥ 2.25
• GPA is evaluated holistically as part of the overall application.
• Applicants must be an enrolled, full-time student in good academic standing during the semester the scholarship is granted, pursuing one of the following degree levels:
• Undergraduate: Associate or Bachelor’s degree
• Graduate: Master’s or Doctoral degree

Note: Individual scholarship funds may specify preferred or prioritized degree levels, but applicants at all levels listed above are eligible unless a fund explicitly restricts eligibility.