June 7, 2024
High school curriculum inspired a passion for plants
Elliot Alkemade Young received the $1,000 Casey van Maris Memorial Scholarship in 2023 from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (Foundation). This scholarship is available to Ontario students entering their first year of a full-time post-secondary ornamental horticulture program at an accredited educational institution. Candidates are chosen based on their academic performance, as well as a two-page essay about why the student wants to enter the horticulture industry. Alkemade Young heard about the scholarship from his Niagara-area high school’s Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) teacher.
The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation is a charitable organization whose mandate is to “ensure a healthy future for the horticulture industry.” To learn more about the many scholarships available under the Foundation and Cullen Family Scholarship Program, please visit ohtf.ca/scholarships.
Once he graduates from Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, Alkemade Young plans to pursue Red Seal certification and build a career that allows him to: “Be with plants, and do something that I enjoy and is meaningful.” Alkemade Young also enjoys camping, hiking, and playing guitar, as well as reading to expand his knowledge of the world and horticulture."When I received my scholarship, I felt like buying another plant!"
— Elliot Alkemade Young
Describe any early exposure you might have had to landscaping and horticulture.
I helped family friends with lawn mowing, weed whacking and other outdoor chores. I then took the Green Industries SHSM course in high school and learned more about plant ID and landscape design. I also worked for my uncle's arboriculture company, Shorthills, for two summers.Who are your role models in the profession?
I look up to and respect all of my teachers, however the person who inspired and motivated me to pursue a career in horticulture the most was my SHSM teacher, Darren Schmahl.What prompted you to pursue a career in landscaping or horticulture?
Many things prompted me to pursue horticulture, including my grandparents owning greenhouses and [the fact that] many of my other family members also went into horticulture. I also went camping and hiking a lot from a young age and throughout my life.What are the benefits of a career in the profession?
My favourite part about horticulture is how much variety there is in the field and how many different opportunities there are to make a difference in the world.The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation is a charitable organization whose mandate is to “ensure a healthy future for the horticulture industry.” To learn more about the many scholarships available under the Foundation and Cullen Family Scholarship Program, please visit ohtf.ca/scholarships.