Scholarships | GCDGweb

2026 Scholarship Winners

Annual scholarships are offered to Masters or Doctoral candidates at the University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. Currently two are offered at $2,000 each. In addition, an annual $1,000 scholarship is offered to a Horticulture student at College of DuPage, and an annual $500 scholarship is offered to a club member or family member for continuing studies in horticulture or floral design based on the student applications received. The club also provides scholarships in memory of a GCDG member from donations recevied by family and friends.

Photograph by Jeff Hodges

MEGHAN BLASZYNSKI

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

GCDG SCHOLARSHIP

PhD Candidate

Research: The effect of the soil bacteria, Rhizobia, on various host and non-host plants. Mentors other graduate students and has collaborated in designing Next Generation Science Standards materials for teachers.

JULIA FREEMAN

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

GCDG SCHOLARSHIP

Master of Science Student

Research: 1) Investigating the role of thrips as pollinators and their impact on the seed set of a rare and endangered plant, the Texas Prairie Dawn.

2) Improve retention of volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to conserving native plants.

SARAH DOUGLASS

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

GCDG SCHOLARSHIP

PhD candidate

Research: Conducting a community science mussel survey on the Sangamon River which will advance a long term state monitoring program with data on adult mussel movement, population dynamics and stability.

Sarah is a Malacologist who has spent over 18 years studying fresh water mussels in rivers and streams.

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FOUAD HENTOUR

NANCY SLOVE MEMORIAL

COLLEGE OF DUPAGE SCHOLARSHIP

Goal: Establish a business focused on sustainable landscaping and ecological restoration for home gardeners and local communities.

Fluent in three different languages. Background in banking, industrial production and business management.