Contributed by E. Dianne Campbell
Fluvanna Master Gardeners has recognized the achievements and potential of McKinley Jones with a $1,000 scholarship for her continuing education.
The 16-year-old has graduated from the Rosedale Academy of Virginia homeschool program with a 4.09 GPA and will attend the Southside Virginia Community College where she will study agribusiness through its online program.
McKinley’s goal is to one day have her own farm producing healthy animals and plants. During the past three seasons, she has worked at Fruit Hill Orchard in all aspects of horticulture, from preparing the land to planting and harvesting. In addition, she has been active in volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and leadership roles in several areas, particularly through Effort Baptist Church.
The award was officially presented to McKinley by Donna McCarthy, scholarship committee chair, at the Fluvanna Master Gardener annual picnic. It was an opportunity for family members to be on hand to congratulate her, including her grandparents Bob and Delight Jones, her mother Rosemary, older sister Madison who just graduated from Liberty University, younger sister Regan, and brothers Monroe, Washington, and Lincoln.
This year, the Master Gardeners were fortunate enough to award two scholarships to deserving students planning to study horticulture. A scholarship was also presented in May to Lainey Brown, a Fluvanna County High School student who has completed her associate degree at Piedmont Virginia Community College and will attend Longwood University to study environmental science this fall.
The scholarships are funded through the annual Fluvanna Master Gardener Plant Sale, held each spring. They are just one aspect of the organization’s ongoing efforts to support appreciation, education and support for the area’s horticultural ecosystems.
For further information on how to become a Master Gardener or to learn more about the organization’s activities and events, visit their website www.fluvannamg.org.
