CalFlowers 2021 Scholarship Winner - Kiara Benavides
CalFlowers Scholarship — $6,400 Recipient: Kiara Benavides, California Polytechnic State University
Kiara Benavides (pictured left) is a senior at California Polytechnic State University, majoring in Agriculture Science with an Ornamental Horticulture emphasis and minoring in Agribusiness. Kiara is a leader in multiple organizations at her school. She clearly supports her goal of teaching floral design and ornamental horticulture in high school and being a Future Farmers of America career coach. While in school, Kiara works at Poly Plant Shop located at Cal Poly's Horticultural Unit. In this position, she produces custom floral pieces and arrangements for retail and sells custom bouquets and cut flowers at San Luis Obispo Farmers Markets. She is also employed as a field research assistant at the Cal Poly Strawberry Center that partnered with the California Strawberry Commission to increase the sustainability of the California Strawberry industry through research and education that addresses industry needs. Following graduation, Kiara plans to enroll in Cal Poly's Master of Agriculture Education program. Through this program, graduate students complete their master's degree, student teach, and receive their teaching credentials in one academic school year. “My absolute dream job is to become an Agriculture Teacher back home in the Central Valley. Teaching agriculture curriculum will allow me to teach floriculture courses,” said Kiara. “I aspire to introduce students to the industry and hopefully encourage some to pursue personal floriculture and horticulture endeavors!” The California Association of Flower Growers & Shippers (CalFlowers) was founded in 1941 by a small group of flower shipping companies to foster the success of the California floral industry. Today, CalFlowers is the leading floral trade association in California serving growers and the entire supply chain in CA and 47 other states across the country. The CalFlowers Scholarship is for undergraduate students attending an accredited California college or university or an undergraduate California resident attending an accredited college or university elsewhere in the United States.
Click Here to read the full press release from AFE and to see the full list of scholarship Recipients.