What is the AFGC Sponsored Scholarship?

The Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. (AFGC) delights in offering an annually awarded scholarship to qualified students who are Arizona residents, have completed two years of college, and meet a career path listed in the table below.  This scholarship is available to students at any of the state universities and colleges. The awarded amount of the scholarship varies based on the strength of the candidate’s application.

Completed application must be submitted by February 1 each year to the AFGC Scholarship Chair. The AFGC Scholarship Committee will review all submissions and choose an awardee only if a qualified candidate has submitted a completed application before this deadline. The scholarship award is paid through the university or college for the following academic year, usually beginning in the following August.

A successful winner of the AFGC Sponsored Scholarship may qualify for additional scholarships during the same academic year as the AFGC award. The AFGC Scholarship Chair will discuss these possibilities with the winner and facilitate any further applications. The National Garden Clubs, Inc., and the Pacific Region Garden Clubs, Inc., will accept applications via AFGC Scholarship Chair for additional scholarship monies.

The Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs’ tradition of providing scholarships to deserving students is deeply rooted.  For additional information about scholarship requirements, please contact the AFGC Scholarship Chair.

Scholarships

AFGC Scholarship Committee additionally awards 2 Gertrude Claypool Scholarships through the Arizona State University’s Foundation. These scholarships are available only through ASU and must meet additional qualifying criteria. The application process for the Gertrude Scholarship is handled separately through the university portal.

 

Candidates must be majoring in a field of study relating to one of these environmental concerns:
Agronomy Botany Environmental Management
Agriculture Education Biology Horticulture Resource Management
Floriculture Wildlife Science Environmental Behavior
Horticulture Plant Science or Pathology Environmental Conservation
Landscape Design City Planning – Rural & Urban Environmental Law or Engineering
Forestry Habitat or Forest Systems Ecology Land Management

Support the AFGC Scholarship Fund with a tax-deductible donation today

A donation may be made in honor of an outstanding person or in memory of a loved one on the AFGC Donations page.

Applying for the AFGC Sponsored Scholarship

  1. Download and review the rules and procedures before completing your application: Application Guidelines

  2. Complete the AFGC Sponsored Scholarship Application Form (Download PDF to Return via Email )

  3. Complete Financial Aid Form (Download PDF to Return via Email )

AFGC Scholarship Award for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

Scholarship Winner Chris Butkus

Christopher Butkus, Forest Ecologist and Silviculturalist

Congratulations to Chris for winning both the AFGC Scholarship plus the NGC Mary Louise Michie Scholarship. Chris is returning to Northern Arizona University  to study forestry while also working multiple seasons with Arizona Conservation Corps in forest restoration projects. Chris can also be found at the Arboretum at Flagstaff assisting in community education. We wish him the best of luck in his career and education!

ASU Gertrude Claypool Scholarship

AFGC Scholarship Committee has awarded this scholardship to a well-deserving candidate. Check back later for the announcement details.

History of the AFGC Scholarship Award

Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., has a long-rooted tradition of supporting education and assisting college-degree seeking individuals. It has been our great pleasure to award the outstanding students with a financial award to further their studies in a horticultural career path.

Academic Year Scholarship Winners
2026-2027 NAU, Christopher Butkus (read more) & Winner of NGC’s Mary Louise Michie Scholarship
2026-2027 ASU Gertrude Claypool Scholarship to be announced soon
2025-2026 no qualifying candidates applied
2024-2025 ASU, Sophia Page (read more)
2024-2025 ASU Gertrude Claypool Scholarships to Mario Torres Gasco and Alexandra Nelson
2023-2024 ASU, Zane Robertson
2022-2023 ASU, Abigail Mitchell ASU, Leanna Watts
2021-2022 no scholarship awarded
2020-2021 NAU, Kathryn Cooney UoA, Paige Anthony
2019-2020 UoA, Penelope Cottrell-Crawford
2018-2019 ASU, Rhiannon Tara Watkins
2017-2018 NAU, Eric Lee Olsen
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014

For brevity, the complete history of winners is not printed here.