CLC horticulture student earns two industry scholarships
Bernard Kondenar, a College of Lake County horticulture student from Antioch, has received two prestigious industry scholarships: the inaugural, $5,000 Denny R. Church Memorial Scholarship from the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) and a 2016 Proven Winners® 2-Year/Technical School scholarship of $2,000.
The Denny R. Church Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of a former ILCA president who died in 2013, was created in 2015 and is awarded to a student enrolled full time or part time in an accredited horticulture-related degree program. Other requirements include completing a one-page essay describing educational and career goals and submitting a written evaluation from a counselor or department head, according to Scott Grams, ILCA executive director. The Proven Winners award is presented to a student earning at least a 3.0 GPA in horticulture science or a related field while enrolled full time in an accredited technical or two-year, post-secondary institution in the U.S. or Canada, according to www.provenwinners.com.
Kondenar was one of five North American students receiving the Proven Winners scholarships, out of more than 60 applicants. "I'm very thankful for this award and for the support of CLC faculty, staff, fellow students and my family during the application process," he said.
The Northbrook, Ill.-based ILCA is a non-profit trade association. Proven Winners is a Sycamore, Ill.-based cooperative and leading brand of flowering plants sold to wholesale growers and retail garden centers throughout North America.
"Receiving scholarship funding makes it easier to get involved in extra-curricular activities and community service," said Kondenar. He has served as a CLC student senator and is the student representative on the CLC Board of Trustees and president of the student horticulture club.
Kondenar, who also received a $500 Devore Leadership Scholarship from the CLC Foundation for his involvement in student government, is majoring in sustainable agriculture and plans to graduate in 2017. After pursuing a bachelor's degree in plant science, he eventually would like to operate his own permaculture learning farm, which is designed to mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature and illustrate environmentally friendly practices such as composting.
Visit www.clcillinois.edu/programs/hrt for more details on CLC's horticulture program. To apply for CLC scholarships, visit www.clcillinois.edu/scholarships. For details on how to become a CLC student, visit www.clcillinois.edu/admission or call (847) 543-2090.