AED Foundation & SkillsUSA Illinois Support Skilled Trades
Jessica Schwartz
NaturaLawn Now Accepting 2022 Scholarship Applications
NaturaLawn® of America—an organic-based lawn care franchise system headquartered in Frederick, MD—is accepting applications for the 2022 Dan Collins Scholarship Award. The is the fourth consecutive year the award has been offered to students across the U.S. The Award was established in memory of Dan Collins, a franchise owner who passed away from cancer in 2005. Collins was a “larger than life” gentleman who always had a funny story to share, an encouraging word for his fellow owners, and a big heart for giving his best to help others. NaturaLawn created the scholarship to help students with the cost of higher education. The scholarship is an essay contest awarding three one-time stipends to the winning students to be used towards their college education. The first-place winner will receive $4,000 in scholarship monies; second place will receive $2,000; and third-place will receive $100. To enter, students will be required to submit two essays, along with proof of enrollment in a high school, college, or university. In addition to the completed application and a possible interview with NaturaLawn management, the following criteria will be considered during the decision process: • The applicant should be a current high school senior or enrolled as a full-time student in a two-year Associate Degree or four-year Bachelor Degree College/University program. • Submission of a transcript showing a high school or current College/University GPA level of at least 2.5. • A one-page essay explaining why you should receive this award. • A one-page essay recounting how ...
2nd Annual Kubota Hometown Proud Grant Program Expands To Five Winners
Calling all Nonprofits and Municipalities: Enter a community project into the Kubota Hometown Proud Grant Program for a chance to win $100,000 to revitalize a public space. The application process is open now through April 15, 2022, and any community project — from parks and playgrounds to rodeo arenas or community gardens and more — is invited to enter. Five winners will be selected to win $100,000, then in July the public is invited to cast a vote for one of the top five winning projects. The community project with the highest number of votes will be presented with the Kubota Community Choice Award and will receive an additional $100,000 grant this August. Kubota Tractor Corporation today celebrates a milestone anniversary – 50 years of powering and empowering the American dream – by giving back in a big way through the launch of its second annual Kubota Hometown Proud grant program, a community grant program for cities, counties, and nonprofit organizations. To thank the communities and dealers who have played a vital role in 50 years of the company’s success, Kubota expanded this year’s grant program fivefold to award five $100,000 grants, one in each of the company’s operating regions, to refresh or revitalize five local projects. “We are extremely grateful that our iconic orange equipment is at work in every rural landscape, suburban neighborhood, and urban cityscape across America,” said Todd Stucke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Product Support and Strategic Projects, Kubota Tractor Corporation. “We are proud of ...
GROWMARK Contest For Public Space Pollinator Garden
Honey bees and other pollinators play an important role in the agricultural ecosystem. As the green industry has seen, these same pollinators are under stress from a number of factors: pests, disease, lack of habitat, and more. The GROWMARK System is working with youth organizations to help sustain and increase honey bee populations. An agricultural cooperative serving customers across North America, GROWMARK provides agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, IL, GROWMARK owns the FS trademarks, which are used by licensed member cooperatives. Winning Entry Wins Pollinator Garden For Public Space Now in its seventh year, the Pollinator Garden program is open to 4-H clubs, Ag in the Classroom groups, and FFA chapters throughout the United States. Groups who previously participated in the program have been automatically re-enrolled. The deadline for entries is March 11, 2022. Youth organizations are asked to locate a public place and secure permission to plant a pollinator garden prior to filling out an application. This could be in a park, near a school, along a well-traveled road, at the county fairgrounds, or any visible location. GROWMARK will provide enough seed to plant approximately a 700 square foot area, as well as educational signage to be placed around the garden. “More than 300 youth organizations have been part of the program since 2016,” said Karen Jones, GROWMARK Youth and Young Producer Specialist. “Growing the number of pollinator gardens this year ...
