Mukilteo Way Garden Club Awards Two Horticulture Scholarships for 2026–27
When most people picture a garden club, they imagine flower shows and friendly conversation over coffee. The Mukilteo Way Garden Club does plenty of that, but it also does something that reaches well past city limits: it helps grow the next generation of horticulture professionals.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the club awarded two $1,500 scholarships to students pursuing studies in horticulture-related fields:
- Don Wheeler of Spokane
- Lillian Schott of Edmonds
Both recipients are heading into programs tied to horticulture, the broad field that covers everything from landscape design and agriculture to environmental studies and plant science.
A Scholarship Built for More Than Traditional Students
One of the things that sets this program apart is who it is designed to reach. The scholarship is not limited to graduating high school seniors heading off to a four-year university. Eligible applicants include:
- High school seniors
- Current college students
- People already working in horticulture who want to advance
- Adults looking to start a new career in a horticulture-related field
That last group matters. Career changers often have the drive and the real-world perspective to thrive in hands-on fields, but they rarely fit the mold that most scholarships are built around. The Mukilteo Way Garden Club leaves the door open for them.
The funds can be used at accredited Washington colleges or trade schools, which keeps the investment local. When the club selects recipients, it looks at a mix of factors:
- Genuine interest in horticulture or a related field
- Financial need
- Clear career goals
- Involvement in school and community
Why a Local Garden Club Scholarship Matters
It is easy to underestimate the impact of a $1,500 award when university tuition can run into the tens of thousands. But scholarships like this one rarely work that way. For a student at a community college or technical program, $1,500 can cover books, tools, a certification fee, or a full quarter of classes. In fields where students need boots, pruners, soil test kits, and lab fees, that kind of practical support removes real barriers.
The award also reflects a role garden clubs have played quietly for generations. Beyond the plant sales and seasonal displays, organizations like the Mukilteo Way Garden Club support:
- Environmental stewardship
- Native plant education
- Pollinator awareness
- Community beautification projects
- Student scholarships and outreach
This is not a new effort, either. The club has offered horticulture scholarships for years, and earlier recipients have included students from local schools such as Mariner High School and Edmonds College. Each award adds another person to a growing community of trained professionals working in and around the region.
A Growing Field With Real Opportunity
The timing is worth noting. Across Washington, there is a steady shortage of skilled workers in horticulture, landscape management, and environmental restoration. As communities invest in native plantings, salmon habitat recovery, urban tree canopy, and sustainable landscaping, the demand for people who actually know how to do the work keeps climbing.
That means students like Don and Lillian are stepping into careers with momentum behind them. The skills they build can lead to roles in nursery management, landscape design, ecological restoration, agriculture, parks and grounds work, and beyond. For students weighing whether a horticulture path is practical, the answer is increasingly yes.
A Big Impact From a Small-Town Organization
For a town the size of Mukilteo, this is a great example of how a local volunteer organization can have an effect that travels far beyond the city. Two students, one in Edmonds and one all the way over in Spokane, are getting a meaningful boost toward careers that will help shape Washington’s landscapes and ecosystems for decades.
That is the quiet power of a community group that decides to plant something more than flowers.
Interested in learning more about the Mukilteo Way Garden Club or future scholarship opportunities? Reach out through the club to find out how to get involved, support the program, or apply when the next cycle opens.
