Nov 30, 2018
Dümmen Orange Awards Allen Hammer Scholarship

Karen Schneck has been named the recipient of the Dr. P. Allen Hammer Scholarship. Schneck is an undergraduate student studying horticulture and entomology at Kansas State University.

The $5,000 award is presented in recognition of exemplary academic achievement in the field of horticulture, and is intended to support the next generation of floriculture students towards the completion of their horticulture-related academic pursuits.

The scholarship, founded in 2016 by Dümmen Orange in acknowledgement of the contributions Dr. P. Allen Hammer has made to the floriculture industry.

“Karen was selected for her outstanding record of accomplishments at Kansas State University. Her academic record and extracurricular activities show her commitment to floriculture in both learning and participation,” says Hammer. “I hope this scholarship provides Karen support and encouragement in her continuing studies as well as a recognition of her accomplishments through her hard work and passion for learning.”

Schneck is a senior at KSU and plans to attend graduate school to study ornamental horticulture after graduation. “I eventually would like to enter the industry as a greenhouse grower and, maybe one day, become a horticulture extension educator,” she says.

“Receiving the Dr. P. Allen Hammer Scholarship from Dümmen Orange has made it possible for me to graduate college without any student loans or other debts. Without having to worry about my finances, I have been completely able to dedicate my time to class and research project. This scholarship has put me on a track that opens up many wonderful and exciting paths for me. It is such an honor to be named the recipient of it.”

Karen adds, “no matter what happens, I know I love to grow plants and I plan on working with them the rest of my life.”

Dynamic and Passionate

“It’s so great to see such a dynamic, passionate future leader in horticulture recognized with this prestigious scholarship,” says Kim Williams, professor of Greenhouse Management at KSU and Karen’s teacher and mentor. “It is a special honor because the scholarship’s namesake, Dr. Allen Hammer, has done so much for the greenhouse industry over his long career.”

Chad Miller, associate professor of Landscape Horticulture at KSU and Karen’s Academic Advisor, shares similar sentiments. “This scholarship is a great way to recognize and support some of the great undergraduate horticulture students that will be going into the industry. Karen, and many others, are the future leaders of the industry and for them to be honored and recognized for their hard work and effort through their studies is much appreciated.”