Appalachian Naturescapes of Morganton partners with the Western Piedmont Foundation to offer a new Horticulture Scholarship

The Appalachian Naturescapes Annual Scholarship will help students pursuing a horticulture degree meet their educational expenses. To qualify for the $1,000 annual scholarship, students must be enrolled in a horticulture degree program at WPCC with a minimum of six credit hours, must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as determined by the college and must demonstrate financial need.

The fund was established Carl Meyers Jr. and Terrel Knutson, co-owners of the Appalachian Naturescapes landscaping company. Meyers and Knutson met when they were both horticulture students at North Carolina State University in the 1990s, according to the business’ website. The pair also own a sister company called Wind River Growers, LLC, a nursery specializing in growing hard-to-find plants and trees.

“We are happy to be partnering with WPCC in our inaugural year, offering a $1,000 annual scholarship to horticulture and landscape design students,” Meyers and Knutson said in a joint statement. “(We) know the financial burdens on students while following their dreams of working in this industry. It has been 26 years now in the making (of) creating landscape in Burke and surrounding counties, growing our scope and size of our projects. We encourage applicants to apply for this scholarship.”

To apply, students should visit the Western Piedmont Foundation’s website at wpcc.edu/foundation. The foundation is an incorporated, nonprofit organization that exists to encourage and develop public and private support for Western Piedmont Community College beyond that provided by county, state, and federal funds.

Meyers and Knutson encouraged people interested in a horticulture or landscaping career to visit their website, www.apppalchiannaturescapes.com, to explore job opportunities there.