RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - The epitome of why the River Valley Garden Club works so hard on its fundraisers was evident when the group met at the RMA Building on April 23.

The reasons manifested as three horticultural students who were being awarded $1,000 scholarships. Erin Harris and Stephanie Estrada, students at American River College (ARC), along with Britney Carpenter from Cosumnes River College (CRC), attended the meeting accompanied by enthusiastic family members.

Margaret Watson Hopkins, chair of this year’s scholarship committee, took a moment to acknowledge her team, comprising Cathy Critz, Eileen Shepherd and Karen Bengard, before introducing the scholarship recipients. 

`“I’m just tickled pink to be able to present these scholarships,” she said. “The main focus of what we do is not only provide beauty but to help others provide beauty.”

The club funds its annual scholarships and community grants through the sale of raffle tickets at each meeting and by hosting plant sales during the summer months, with the inaugural event being the May 11 plant extravaganza.

Earlier this year, the club allocated $500 community grants to five organizations, including the Murieta Trail Stewardship and a gardening program catering to youngsters at Pioneer Elementary School in Somerset.

“Now we are giving out three scholarships to students at American River College to help them further their students in horticulture, in landscape design, in agriculture and research,” Watson Hopkins told the audience. 

Erin Harris

ARC student Harris approached the podium first. Her horticultural journey began when the family relocated to a property with ample land when her three children, now aged 6, 8 and 10, were babies. Always passionate about gardening, Harris embarked on transforming her front yard, revamping the backyard and removing lifeless trees. During the pandemic, she found herself assisting friends with their landscape designs, initially as a hobby.

The epiphany struck her while pruning a tree branch from her rooftop. "As I sawed away, I thought I should do this as a living. This brings me a lot of joy,” she said.

Harris, with a background in media communications, utilized her skills in fundraising before transitioning to full-time motherhood. Surprisingly, she had never enrolled in a single class related to plants.

When Harris embarked on the ARC horticultural program, her goal was to become a landscape designer. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “I actually started taking on clients and doing design work.”

However, this path led her to the realization she needed to learn more about trees. Currently pursuing certification as an arborist, she acknowledges its importance, especially as one of her clients requires landscaping around a diseased tree.

As Harris establishes her burgeoning design business and certifies as an arborist, the timely support from the garden club scholarship holds profound significance for her family.

"Recently, we received the news that one of our children is experiencing hearing loss," she said. 

With significant medical procedures and rehabilitation looming ahead, Harris told the membership that she was thankful and honored she had been selected for a scholarship.

Britney Carpenter

When Carpenter was invited to share a few words, she expressed a blend of gratitude and nervousness. Her fascination with horticulture blossomed during her three years at Green Acres, coupled with invaluable guidance from Professor Dave Andrews at CRC.

In her scholarship application, Carpenter outlined her ambition to pursue a transfer to a four-year institution for post-associate degree completion. She sees herself as a conscientious landscape architect, prioritizing ecological sustainability and water conservation.

Moreover, Carpenter envisions contributing to community enhancement by challenging conventional landscaping norms. “Landscapes can be more than just the typical products found at mainstream nurseries,” she said. “Native drought-tolerant plans can be just as beautiful when sustainability is considered.”

Carlos Valez, manager of Green Acres Nursery in Elk Grove, commended Carpenter's stellar work ethic in his letter of recommendation. “Her extensive plan knowledge is a resource we use for the benefit of our customers, and over the years, she had taken a larger role in teaching others the things she had learned,” he said.

Stephanie Estrada

Despite growing up immersed in the family garden and cultivating small crops, it wasn't until enrolling at ARC in 2019 that Estrada discovered her passion for horticulture. When the pandemic disrupted her academic pursuits, she temporarily shifted gears, securing employment as a painter. 

However, a serious injury prompted her return to ARC to resume her studies.

With just a year left to complete her associate degree, Estrada remains undecided about her future educational endeavors, though she expresses a keen interest in delving deeper into the scientific aspects of agriculture. 

“My goals are to graduate and to have my own business and to be able to teach others about how amazing and important agriculture is,” she said.