Scholarship Committee Chair 2023-2024: MaryAnn Chatfield

Thanks to the proceeds from our annual Holiday Tour of Homes fundraiser, the Garden Club of LBI is able to award scholarships to local students studying horticultural, environmental and marine sciences.

2023 Garden Club of LBI Scholarship Winner

Photo by Gillian Rozicer

Congratulations to MATES graduate Nicholas Guerriero of Surf City on being named The Garden Club of LBI’s scholarship recipient for 2023.  Nicholas will attend Stockton University in the fall in the Accelerated Dual Degree program in Environmental Science. He is a native of Surf City, as is his mother.

For the summer, Nicholas is working at the Barnegat Oyster Collective, the Bayview Marina leading echo kayak tours and as a paid intern with Re-Clam the Bay and Save Barnegat Bay.

The scholarship is for $1000 each year and is renewable each year the student is in school. Sarah Neil, The Garden Club’s  2022 recipient, is continuing her studies at College of New Jersey and received $1,000 for her second year. 

The scholarship will amount to $4,000 over the course of each recipient’s education. 

2022 Garden Club of LBI Scholarship Winner

Photos: Jeannette Michelson

Congratulations to Southern Regional High School graduate Sarah Neil,  of Manahawkin, on being named the Garden Club of LBI’s scholarship recipient for 2022.  Sarah is beginning her spring semester at the College of New Jersey majoring in Biology.   

Among her volunteer projects, Sarah worked at Cloverdale Farm removing invasive species from the cranberry bogs.  She also worked on clearing wooded areas in the SRHS Health and Science Club and was a volunteer at Jake’s Branch Park helping visitors maximize their visit. 

Sarah’s professional goals include avian research and biological research.  She  enjoys playing the guitar, drawing and painting and writing.

The Garden Club’s Scholarship program is awarded to Southern Regional High School seniors who wish to pursue studies in environmental and horticultural college programs.  This coming year there will be a second scholarships awarded.  Applications are currently being accepted  through Southern’s guidance office.

Sarah says, “ I have just completed my first semester in biology at TCNJ and absolutely loved it!  I look forward to being involved in environmentally focused clubs this spring and getting to learn even more about the diversity of life on this planet. Thank you to the Garden Club of LBI for helping me to further my education and pursue my passions.”

Interview by Gillian Rozicer Publicity Chair

The Garden Club of Long Beach Island
2024Scholarship Application will be available soon!

If you know of a worthy candidate, please contact MaryAnn Chatfield at mchatfield184@comcast.net