Master Gardener Awards
Each year, at the Gardeners Mini-College, the Oregon Master Gardener Association recognizes County Master Gardeners of the Year, as well as the winners of the Statewide Master Gardener of the Year and the Behind the Scenes Award. County Master Gardeners of the Year are cooperatively selected by local Associations and Master Gardener Program staff.
The Statewide Master Gardener of the Year and the Behind the Scenes
Award will be selected, from all applications that are received, by the
Mini-College Awards Committee. This five-person committee will use
a set of standard criteria to review all applications.
These criteria are included in this packet, for your information. Also
included in this packet, you will find the nomination forms for the
County Master Gardener of the Year, Statewide Master Gardener of the
Year and the Behind the Scenes Award.
Applications and criteria are attached above. Applications are due to
Gail Langellotto, Awards Committee Chair, by May 15th.
This document list all of the award winners : MG State Award Recipients
Karl Carlson Memorial Fund
In addition, OMGA, in cooperation with the OSU Extension Service, oversees the Karl Carlson Memorial Fund. The Karl Carlson Memorial Fund commemorates the life and work of Dr. Karl Carlson, and serves as a tribute to his dedication to the Oregon Master Gardener Association, and to the Oregon State University Extension Service.
The purpose of the fund is to enhance the Oregon State University Urban Horticulture Program in the state of Oregon, by making available Oregon Master GardenerTM funds to help OSU Master Gardener Chapters, in the following ways:
- In the establishment of new OSU Master Gardener Chapters.
- To assist new or struggling OSU Master Gardener Chapters become better established.
- In the implementation of new programs or projects related to urban horticulture, when financial assistance is needed.
Marje Luce Search for Excellence (SFE)
Search for Excellence (SFE) is the recognition program of Master Gardener volunteer work, both throughout the United States and Canada (at the International level), and across the state of Oregon within the OMGA. If you or your Master Gardener chapter have a project that you would like to have considered for a SFE, please do not hesitate to apply. Recipients of SFE awards will receive a cash award for their chapter, and recognition at Gardeners Mini-College. Please read the guidelines and then fill out an application, ( PDF format ) ( Word format )the deadline is 4/30/2012. Please note that the document is based on the International guidelines and is dated 2011. These are the most recent guidelines and those that we will use for the OMGA 2012 SFE.
Applications should be e-mailed to Jean Scholtz and Gail Langellotto
Jean.scholtz@mindspring.com
Gail.langellotto@oregonstate.edu
Submissions are to be made in one of seven categories: youth programs, demonstration garden, workshops, community service, innovative project, special audiences, or research. There will be only one winner per category. The winner will be the project that has the highest score from the judges assuming that score is 80 points or better (out of 100). The judging criteria are: simplicity, practicality, originality, consistency with MG mission, clarity and completeness, significant learning, and number of people impacted.
OMGA winners from 2012 will also be eligible to submit their work to the International Conference, an Alaskan Cruise, September 7-14, 2013. www.uaex.edu/imgc2013/
Larry Sutton, OMGA 3rd Vice President in 2011 has written a pamphlet as a guide for Search for Excellence submissions. If you are considering a submission, the document provides hints for better submissions and also contains the winning submissions from 2011.
You may view this pamphlet Online in your web browser . Controls for downloading viewing and Zooming are just above the pamphlet. (May not work on Apple computers unless running Windows.)
2011 Search for Excellence pamphlet
You can also read the pamphlet embedded in it's own page, just click the link below. (May not work on an Apple Computers unless running Windows.)
SFE_Pamphlet.html
You may also download the pdf document to your computer.
Ray McNeilan Scholarship
In honor of retired Oregon State University Extension Service State Master Gardener Program Leader, Ray McNeilan, the Oregon Master Gardener Association (OMGA) in 1996 established a scholarship program for up to six high school students to attend Gardener’s Mini-College. By 2005, an updated agreement was established instead to award a yearly $1000 scholarship to a deserving full-time undergraduate student majoring in Horticulture at Oregon State University.
Guidelines were established for the prospective recipient. He or she will have junior or senior class standing and have a grade point average of 2.75 if a junior and 3.0 if a senior. The rewarding of this scholarship will be determined by the Department of Horticulture Scholarship Committee.
Former recipients of the monetary Ray McNeilan Scholarship are as follows:
2005 - Evan Bellingar
2006 – Jason D. Oliver
2007 – Meredith Brown Durham
2008 – Brian Clifton Smith
2009 – Ty Patton
2010 - Abigail Huster
Jan McNeilan Quarterly Grant
This grant was initiated in 2007 in honor of Jan McNeilan in order to provide monetary assistance to OMGA Chapters that host Quarterly Board meetings. These meetings are held around the state of Oregon. Executive Committee, Chapter Representatives, Alternate Chapter Representatives and various members of the host Chapter attend this meeting to discuss Association business, share best practices and gardening solutions, direct the various community outreach funding projects.
If the host chapter chooses to request partial reimbursement, a letter from the County Treasurer is sent to the OMGA Treasurer with all applicable receipts attached.
Reimbursements for up to $300 are allowable.
Deadlines for receipt of the reimbursement are determined by the OMGA Treasurer.
Extension Educator Grant
The OMGA Extension Education Grant Program has funds to help OSU Extension Community Horticulture Agents, Program Assistants, or designated OSU Extension Staff responsible for County Master Gardener programs enhance their ability to educate the public in home horticulture.
The following are reference documents in PDF format for the OMGA Extension Educator Grant
Cover Letter to OSU Extension Agents
OMGA Extension Educator Grant Article
OMGA Extension Educator Grant Request Form
Send a Friend
The Send-A-Friend Scholarship Program was established in 2002. It is a scholarship program to help Master Gardeners from across the state attend Mini College who otherwise may not be able to attend due to financial situations. Funds are acquired by a annual raffle at Mini College and from individuals, MG chapters or corporate donations. Applicants must apply through their individual county chapters.