Green Thumb Garden Club Awards $6,000. in Scholarships to Outstanding Walton Students

By Kathleen Edge, Publicity & Website Chair

Walton County’s Green Thumb Garden Club wrapped up their 2023/2024 year with a special brunch and announcing this year’s Mercer and other scholarship award winners. Casey McClaine, receiving her second scholarship, will use her $2,000. award to continue her plant science studies at University of Florida, West Florida Research Center, Milton Campus. Saddlar Berrey, will use his $1,000. tuition award to study biology and marine biology at the University of West Florida, Pensacola. Ollinca Soto-Yovis will attend University of Florida, Gainesville, applying her $1,000. tuition award to her Biology major.

The well-deserving students were honored at the May meeting. Green Thumb members met the winners and learned about each student’s achievements, current plans and future career goals as related to the mission of the Garden Club.

Two additional $1,000. scholarships were also awarded at the Club’s May meeting. Local youths that participate in Walton County 4-H Camp Timpoochee summer and other programs benefit from scholarship assistance funded by GTGC. E.O. Wilson Biophilia Naturalists Outdoors program will also receive a $1,000. education scholarship to support Walton County students. GTGC has funded local scholarship programs for decades and, through the generous donations of its members and the community, is proud to increase the amount of these awards every year.

Green Thumb Garden Club always welcomes new members. Please visit the Green Thumb Garden Club website to learn about our charitable mission, how to join and details on meetings, activities, and events. The website address is greenthumbgardenclubinc.org or send an email to greenthumbgardenclubinc@gmail.com.

The Green Thumb Garden Club, Inc., located in Walton County, Florida, is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to stimulate interest in the beautification of Walton County, furthering the education of its members and the public in botany, community beautification, conservation of natural resources, environmental awareness, floral design, gardening, horticulture, and nature studies and instill in our youth the love of gardening and respect for the environment.