2026 NHFGC SCHOLARSHIPS
This year, the NHFGC will award two scholarships. These are the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. Scholarship in the amount of $2000 and the Jean L. Thompson Scholarship (in the amount of $1000), which was established in her honor by her daughters, Lindsay Thompson and Elizabeth Thompson. They can be applied for by undergraduate or graduate students attending a 2- or 4-year college or university that is accredited and listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education at https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx. The student must be in a program and concentration related to Plant Science, Agriculture, Forestry, Ecology, Conservation, Environmental Sciences, Plant Biology, Horticulture, Forest Technology, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability Studies, Wildlife Management, or other closely related programs. Recipients must be New Hampshire residents and are selected on the basis of academic performance, good character, service, and leadership ability in their fields of endeavor. A minimum GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is required.
Application Requirements
1) Completed Application Form. Click here for the form (doc) or (pdf).
2) Copy of Current and Complete Transcript.
3) Personal Letter by Applicant: Letter should discuss background, education and career goals, commitment to chosen field of study, special circumstances. Not to exceed one (1) typed page.
4) Extra-curricular Activities and/or Honors Received: Attach a descriptive list.
5) Letter of Recommendation: One (1) Letter of Recommendation, not to exceed one (1) typed page, is required from someone who is not related to you and who is able to discuss the following: Your scholastic ability, character references, work-related experience.
Submit these five (5) items as one (1) packet, either by e-mail or USPS, to the NHFGC Scholarship Chair on or before March 31, 2026.
Audrey Vargish, Scholarship Chair
22 Montana Drive
Sandown, NH 03873
603-887-3743
scholarship@nhfgc.org
List of NHFGC Scholarships Awarded in Prior Years
The NHFGC Scholarship is funded through gifts from its clubs, members and friends. In order to continue to support the outstanding young people who are recipients of this scholarship, it is important for all clubs in NHFGC to participate in annual donations to the Scholarship Fund.
NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS (NGC) SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year, National Garden Clubs, Inc. offers up to forty-five scholarships (limited mostly to one per state) in the amount up to $4000. One year scholarships are available to juniors, seniors and graduate students pursuing a Master’s Degree who are planning a career related to gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design or horticulture. A list of eligible majors can be found online. Among the criteria for applicants: one must be a US Citizen or Permanent Legal Resident of the United States: one must be attending school full-time as defined by the NGC: one must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale). Full information on requirements and application forms can be found at: https://www.gardenclub.org/college-scholarships . Between December 1 and February 1, forms can be downloaded, printed or completed online by uploading the necessary documents. Also, applicants can directly submit their forms by mail by February 1st to the NHFGC Scholarship Chair, Audrey Vargish, at 22 Montana Drive, Sandown, NH 03873. All applications received will be judged by that Chair and a committee to choose one winning application. After judging has been completed at the state level, the chosen application will be sent to the NGC Scholarship Chair by March 1st.
In 2022, Lydia Barnes of Stratham, NH was awarded a $4000 scholarship. Read the press release here and photo.
In 2012, Henry Glick was awarded NGC’s Kitty Larkin Scholarship in the amount of $3500.
During NGC President Shirley Nicolai’s term (2011-2013), she asked her Scholarship Chairman to contact the State Presidents of all 50 states and the National Capital Area to determine the total number of dollars awarded to students, on average, in any given year through their garden club sponsored scholarship programs. As President Nicolai suspected, the grand total was astounding: $ 1,515,034! YES, One million, five hundred fifteen thousand and thirty-four dollars! And this number is most likely on the low side as some clubs and/or state organizations, for their own reasons, chose not to divulge their scholarship numbers. New England alone awarded $307,175 to high school and college students pursuing fields of study related to horticulture and the environment. Yeah us!
Several NH garden clubs offer scholarships of their own. One needs to contact their local club for more information.
2025 NHFGC SCHOLARSHIPS
Audrey Vargish, Scholarship Chair
This year was the first time in several years that the NHFGC Scholarship Committee received a good response to our Scholarship offerings after the changes made in 2023. These scholarships provide financial support to either undergraduate or graduate students in programs and concentrations such as plant and environmental sciences, conservation, horticulture, sustainability, and other closely related programs. Recipients must be New Hampshire residents and attend qualifying schools that are 2-or 4-year colleges and universities that are accredited and listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education.
We had applicants from UNH, UMass, UConn, the University of New England, and Plymouth State. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic performance, good character, service, and leadership ability in their fields of endeavor.
The New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. Scholarship was awarded to Eleora McCay of Bedford, NH. She is in her junior year at the University of NH where she is majoring in Wildlife and Conservation Biology with a minor in Forestry, and has a GPA of 3.98. Inspired by her grandfather who worked for NH Fish and Game, Eleora chose “to be a wildlife biologist to keep New Hampshire’s ecosystems as biologically diverse and beautiful as they are right now.” She is drawn to pastoral ministry and is studying at the Trivium Institute for Leadership Development. Eleora was an intern for the UNH Wildlife Modeling and Management Lab. For her own wildlife research at UNH, she was given the Undergraduate Research Award. She is consistently on the Highest Honors Dean’s List and in the UNH Honors Program and was awarded the UNH Trustee’s Merit Scholarship. In his recommendation letter, Professor Remington Moll has said that Eleora “is an exceptional student … in the top 1%”, “routinely pursues excellence in all her endeavors” and “ displays maturity and enthusiasm.”
The Jean L. Thompson Scholarship was established in her honor by her daughters, Lindsay Thompson and Elizabeth Thompson. Jean was a 40-year member of the New Hampton Federated Garden Club and served from 2005-2006 as President of the NHFGC. This year’s recipient is Matthew Jolin from Ashland, NH. He is in his sophomore year at Plymouth State University where he is majoring in Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Art, and has a GPA of 3.92. Despite struggling with processing disabilities, Matthew has consistently been on Plymouth State University’s President’s List and is a member of the University Honors Program. He is involved with many university programs such as the PSU Tree Committee, the University Outdoor Education program, the Geography Club, the Office of Sustainability, PSU Student Art Collective and Project WILD. Matthew also works at PSU’s Academic Support Services (PASS) as a study-skills tutor and peer mentor. Educational Coordinator John Silk in the TRIO Program says of Matthew: “he has worked with a diverse array of students, taking the time and care to get to know each individual and understand their needs and learning styles to better support them. He exemplifies everything it means to be an outstanding scholar, a strong leader and an engaged citizen.” As an artist, Matthew was chosen as one of two NH students in the annual Congressional Art Competition and his work “Adulations of Aberrant Green” was displayed at the U.S. Capitol for an entire year. In a note to me about the Thompson Scholarship, Matthew said, “she seemed like a wonderful individual and I relate very much to her love of nature, art, and community service. I even dream of becoming a teacher someday, too.”
The NHFGC Scholarship is funded through gifts from its members, clubs, and friends. In order to continue to support the outstanding young people who are recipients of these scholarships, it is important for all clubs in the NHFGC to participate with annual donations to the Scholarship Fund.