The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, formerly Agronomy and Horticulture, was formed in 1986 from the merging of the Crop and Soil Science department with the Horticulture department. The department consists of 24 faculty, including 6 off-campus faculty with exclusive research appointments.

Once you review the various scholarships, assistantships, internships, and programs please go to our secure Online Giving Form to make your gift.

You may also contact us to discuss how you can make an investment in our department.

With Aggie Pride,

Gregory Mullins
Department Head

Barbara S. Wise
Major Gifts Officer
College of Agriculture & Home Economics
 
     
  Address Information

New Mexico State University
Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences
P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3Q
NE Corner of College & Knox
Las Cruces, NM 88003-0003
575.646.3335 | 866.884.7231
 
   

 
Undergraduate Scholarships (return top)  
 
     
  Emmett Chapman Memorial Scholarship  
  Two scholarships awarded to sophomores, juniors, or seniors majoring in agronomy or horticulture with GPAs of at least 3.0.
(Established by Mrs. Mary Jane Chapman in 1993)
 
     
  Joe and Daisy Corgan Scholarship  
  Awarded to a sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.0 majoring in horticulture.
(Established by Joe and Daisy Corgan, friends and family in 1998)
 
     
  Bernard Corley Memorial Scholarship in Turfgrass Management  
  Varying amount annually to a junior or senior planning to pursue a career in turf management, horticulture, landscaping, or related field. Student must be a U.S. citizen and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
(Donated by friends and family of Bernard Corley in 1996)
 
     
  The Desert Project Scholarship  
  Awarded to an undergraduate student majoring in environmental science.
(Established through a gift form the Desert Project Tour 2000)
 
     
  The Environmental Science Scholarship  
  Awarded to an undergraduate student majoring in environmental science.
(Established by friends of the environmental science program in 2003)
 
     
  J.V. (Josh) Enzie Scholarship  
  Awarded to a student majoring in horticulture.
(Established by friends and family of Josh Enzie in 1989)
 
     
  Dora Blossom Gile Memorial Scholarship  
  Awarded to one or more students enrolled in the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, majoring in soil science. Student must be a U.S. citizen with financial need and may continue to receive the award for more than one year.
(Established by Leland H. Gile in 1997)
 
     
  Bruce Erhard Scholarship  
  Awarded to a sophomore, junior or senior majoring in horticulture with a minimum GPA of 2.8. Preference given to student working at the NMSU Golf Course or other turf entity.
(Established by Bruce Erhard, family and friends in 2006)
 
     
  Kringle the Cat Scholarship  
  $500 scholarship awarded annually to a horticulture major. Recipient selected by department head or committee appointed by department head.
(Anonymous Donor)
 
     
  Paul and Cecelia La Vine Scholarship  
  Awarded to a junior, senior or graduate student majoring in horticulture with a cumulative GPA above 2.75 and demonstrated financial need.
(Established by Paul and Cecelia La Vine in 2005)
 
     
  Bonnie Lowenstein Memorial Scholarship  
  Awarded to a junior, senior, or graduate student majoring in horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, agronomy, or related area. Student must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Financial need is a consideration but not a deciding factor.
(Endowed by Dr. Bernard Lowenstein in 1994)
 
     
  R.W. Ludwick Memorial Scholarship  
  Awarded to a junior or senior woman majoring in horticulture.
 
     
  Dr. Billy Melton Memorial Scholarship  
  Awarded to an outstanding undergraduate student majoring in agronomy, soils, or environmental science.
(Established by Dr. J.R. and Helen Hazer Thomas in 1999)
 
     
  Mary Frances Mexal Memorial Scholarship  
  Awarded to an undergraduate student with a GPA above 2.5. Preference is given to a single parent or returning student continuing their education. If no candidate is available, then the award shall be made to a horticulture major. Financial need is a consideration but not a requirement.
(Established by the family and friends of Mary Frances Mexal. Note: Not yet fully endowed.)
 
     
  Roy Nakayama Horticulture Scholarship  
  Varying amount to two horticulture students.
(Established by friends and family of Roy Nakayama in 1985)
 
     
  John and Ruth Overpeck Memorial Scholarship  
  Awarded to student majoring in agronomy or horticulture.
 
     
  Joe Parker Scholarship  
  Awarded to an agronomy or horticulture major with a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
(Established by Pet Food Incorporated in 1992)
 
     
  Plant and Environmental Sciences Departmental Scholarship  
  The Departmental Scholarship fund is used for special awards, e.g. when a new scholarship has been recently endowed, this account is used to award a scholarship in the donor's name. Otherwise, the department must wait a year for the endowment to accrue interest before an award can be made. Your investment in the department will have a positive impact.  
     
  Dr. Darrell Sullivan Memorial Scholarship  
  Awarded to a sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in horticulture.
(Established by Darrell Sullivan family and friends 2003)
 
     
  Norma Bellows Ulery Outstanding Woman in Soil & Environmental Sciences Endowed Scholarship  
  Awarded to a junior, senior, or graduate female majoring in or emphasizing in soil science or environmental science. Teamwork, service, enthusiasm and collegiality are the main criteria for selection.
(Established by her daughter, Dr. April Ulery in 2007)
 
     
  Watson/Williams Memorial Scholarship  
  Awarded to a student majoring in agronomy or soils.
(Established by friends and family of Clarence Watson & Boyce Williams in 1992)
 
     
  Debbie Widger Scholarship  
  Awarded to a student majoring in horticulture.
(Established by friends of Debbie Widger in 2006)
 
     
 
 
     
 
Graduate Assistantships (return top)  
 
     
  Arden and Elsie Baltensperger Scholarship  
  Awarded to graduate students studying turfgrass science, plant breeding or genetics.
(Established by Arden and Elsie Baltensperger in 2004)
 
     
  E.A. Herrera Graduate Scholarship  
  Awarded to a graduate student with preference given to students interested in pecan or fruit tree research.
(Established by Dr. Esteban Herrera friends and family in 2005)
 
     
  Lowenstein Graduate Fellowship  
  Awarded to one graduate student who shall be designated the 'Lowenstein Fellow' studying some aspect of ornamental horticulture.
(Established through the estate of Dr. Bernard Lowenstein in 2002)
 
     
  Marvin Wilson Memorial Scholarship  
  Awarded to a graduate student majoring in agronomy, horticulture or soils.
(Established by friends and family of Marvin Wilson)
 
     
 
 
     
 
Internships (return top)  
 
     
  Dr. and Mrs. Donald J. Cotter Scholarship  
  Awarded to a junior, senior, or graduate horticulture student who shows evidence of leadership ability and demonstrates moderate financial need. Award based on preparation and completion of a practical or technical work experience in horticulture.
(Donated by Dr. and Mrs. Donald Cotter, friends and family in 1992)
 
     
  Randy and Cindy Farmer Endowment  
  Used to support students employed at the Landscape Demonstration Garden, with preference given to students majoring in horticulture with an interest in landscape horticulture.
(Established by Randy and Cindy Farmer in 2004)
 
     
  Shannon Family Internship  
  Awarded to a horticulture student working in the Landscape Garden.
(Established by Emroy Shannon and Family in 1998)
 
     
 
 
     
 
Programs (return top)  
 
     
  Chile Pepper Institute  
  The Chile Pepper Institute is an international nonprofit organization devoted to education, research, and archiving information related to Capsicum. Since its inception in 1992, it has been a recognized research institute. The Institute collaborates with the New Mexico State University Chile Breeding and Genetics Program to preserve chile germplasm, of both cultivated and wild species, and to advance the studies of chile pepper diseases. Furthermore, the Institute seeks to be an authoritative source of all types of information regarding Capsicum. Since its inception in 1992, it has been a recognized research institute in the College of Agriculture and Home Economics at New Mexico State University  
     
  Faculty/Staff Awards  
  The Plant and Environmental Science department recognizes outstanding efforts of faculty and staff with an internal Faculty/Staff Award. The award consists of a plaque recognizing extraordinary effort in a particular area, and a $250 gift.  
     
  Floriculture Society  
  The Floriculture Society is a donor program set up specifically for the benefit of the NMSU Intercollegiate Floral Evaluation and Design Team, as well as the floriculture program. Donations received through this program go directly to purchase supplies for the floriculture program, and to assist in Team travel to National Competition.  
     
  Flower Judging Team Travel  
  The NMSU Intercollegiate Floral Evaluation and Design Team (NMSU Floral Team for short!) trains extensively each year in preparation for the Pi Alpha Xi Intercollegiate Floral Crop Quality Evaluation and Design competition. Nationally there are between 10 and 13 schools that compete, and NMSU is proud to be counted among them. Eight students from NMSU are chosen each spring to compete at nationals, either in crop evaluation or in floral design. Students must raise money through weekly flower sales, fall and spring crop sales, and individual donor contributions in order to travel to competition. Each year competition is held at a different host school, and team members must raise between $500 and $800 each to attend. Donations to the program help tremendously.  
     
  Frances 'Fran' Hanff Cotter Endowment  
  Used in support of the flower judging teams. May be used for travel, research, scholarships or other aspects related to cut flowers and ornamental plants.
(Established by Don and Fran Cotter in 2005)
 
     
  Landscape Garden Fund  
  Used to support activities in the Landscape Demonstration Garden.
(Established by friends of the garden in 2000)
 
     
  Lowenstein Lecture Series  
  Occasional lecture by renowned scientists contributing to the science of agriculture. Your gift ensures this important lecture series continues to benefit students as well as the community.
(Established by Dr. Bernie Lowenstein)
 
     
  Onion Breeding Program  
  Our breeding program develops onion cultivars for growers in New Mexico. Very few commercial onion cultivars are adapted to the growing conditions found in New Mexico. In addition, the onion acreage in New Mexico is too small to warrant specific cultivar development by commercial seed companies. Our program develops high yielding, high quality, disease resistant, and bolting resistant cultivars that allow growers in New Mexico to be competitive with other onion markets in the United States.  
     
  Plant and Environmental Sciences Departmental Fund  
  Used to support faculty and student development activities, including but not limited to: travel, scholarships, or research.  
     
  PLANET (Professional Land Care Network)  
  The NMSU student chapter of PLANET provides students with opportunities to network with landscape horticulture professionals throughout the nation. Chapter activities include student participation in national landscape horticulture competitions and career events. PLANET is an international association of lawn care professionals, landscape management contractors, design/build/installation professionals, and interior plantscapers.  
     
  Soils Judging Team Travel  
  The NMSU Soil Judging Team was reinstated in 2006 after inactivity for over 10 years. Undergraduate students compete in regional and national contests to describe and identify soils. This is a terrific opportunity for our Soil Science majors to interact with students and faculty from other regions, develop professional networks, and polish their soil identification skills. Money is needed to support their travel to competitions held at Land Grant Universities around the country.  
     
  Turfgrass Program  
  Our turfgrass program focuses on responsible turfgrass use for New Mexico. The continued urban growth of New Mexico will ensure the persistent use of turfgrasses in the landscape. However due to the limited natural resources, including water, in New Mexico; research and educational efforts must address sound resource management while maintaining acceptable and useable landscapes. Research is being conducted on turfgrass water use, alternative turfgrass grass species for New Mexico, irrigation technologies, turfgrass weed management and turfgrass best management practices.

Note:
The NMSU Turf Club was formed in 2006 as a professional and social group for the turfgrass undergraduate and graduate students. One of the major goals of the Turf Club is to raise funds to support the annual trip to the Golf Industry Show and undergraduate student Turf Bowl Competition. The Golf Industry Show and Turf Bowl Competition are excellent opportunities for our turfgrass management majors to interact with students and industry leaders from around the world, develop professional networks, identify career opportunities and strengthen their turfgrass knowledge. Money is needed to support their travel.
 
     
  Related Links:
Scholarship Impact
Endowed Scholarships
Current Use Scholarships

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