Scholarship Winners Presented At The Great Lakes Expo
December 22, 2015 
American Fruit Grower Managing Editor Christina Herrick (left) presented a scholarship check to Michigan State University student Samantha Borowski at the Great Lakes Expo in Grand Rapids, MI, earlier this month.
One of the highlights of this month’s Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market Expo in Grand Rapids, MI, was the presentation of scholarships to several deserving students in the fruit and vegetable industries. The scholarships are presented by the the Michigan Vegetable Council and the Michigan State Horticultural Society and are sponsored by several companies and organizations, including American Vegetable Grower®, American Fruit Grower®. and Western Fruit Grower® magazines.
Here’s a look at the 2015 scholarship recipients.
Matthew Barbott (Michigan State University)
Barbott is pursuing a degree in crop and soil sciences. During the past two summers, he worked for Nestle/Gerber’s. Barbott is planning to initially work in some capacity in the agricultural industry, but he hopes to eventually help expand and be part of his family’s farm operation.
Kaitlin Blaine (Michigan State University)
Blaine is majoring in crop and soil sciences with a minor in horticulture. She is interested in working as an agronomist after graduation.
Samantha Borowski (Michigan State University)
A crop and soil sciences major, Borowski is currently working in MSU’s Mary Hausbeck’s plant pathology lab and she previously worked for Willie Kirk in his potato pathology lab. She has also worked as a technician for potato grower Walther Farms.
Grace Byrne (Michigan State University)
Byrne is pursuing a degree in horticulture. She works in the wine and grape industry, conducting research that could benefit growers.
Mitchell Efaw (Michigan State University)
Efaw is graduate in May 2016 with a degree in entomology. His plan is to work in research of sales after he graduates, preferring to focus on tree fruit, specifically apples.
Charles Krasnow (Michigan State University)
Krasnow is a PhD candidate in plant pathology. As a member of MSU’s Mary Hausbeck’s lab team, his research involves testing cultural and chemical management practices to control Phytophthora blight. He plans on pursuing a career with an agricultural chemical or seed company as a field biologist.
Ashley Leach (Cornell University)
Working on a master’s degree in entomology, Leach’s research is focused on managing thrips in onion cropping systems. Her work experience includes serving as a research technician at Michigan State University. Leach plans to works as an Extension educator or agricultural consultant.
Kaitlyn Linslely (Michigan State University)
Linslely plans to work in market research and industry relations for Michigan’s apple or tart cherry industry after she graduates in December 2016 with a degree in agribusiness management.
Jason Matlock (Michigan State University)
Matlock will graduate in the fall of 2018 with a PhD in entomology. After graduation he is interested in working in the agricultural industry, government, and academia.
D. Corey Noyes (Michigan State University)
Pursuing a master’s degree in horticulture, Noyes also is working as a technician for MSU’s Dan Brainard in his vegetable crop research program. Noyes’s research is focused on nitrogen management in processing carrot production.
Kristen Poley (Michigan State University)
Poley anticipates graduating in the summer of 2016 with a Master’s degree in entomology. Poley plans to use her entomology degree to help understand agricultural ecology in Michigan.
Abby Spickerman (Michigan State University)
For the past two summers, Spickerman interned with Helena Chemical Company, helping to scout horticultural crops. Spickerman is majoring in agriculture education and will graduate in May.
Joshua VanderWeide (Michigan State University)
VanderWeide plans to graduate in 2016 with a degree in food and beverage science. After graduation, he would like to work in the food industry with produce/carbohydrate food or in the fermented beverages industry.
Tammy Wilkinson (Michigan State University)
Expecting to earn her Ph.D. in horticulture in 2019, Wilkinson would like to reamin in academia as a researcher and educator after graduation. She also would like to continue doing research in tree fruit/orchard systems.
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