Montine M. Freeman Scholarship in Native Plant Studies
Offered by The Garden Club of America
About This Scholarship
The Montine M. Freeman Scholarship funds the study of native plants — the species that anchor local ecosystems and have become central to modern landscape design, restoration work, and conservation horticulture. The Garden Club of America funds one or more Freeman scholarships annually at a minimum of $3,000 each.
Like its sibling Engle Scholarship, the Freeman casts a wide eligibility net: college undergraduates, graduate students, advanced degree candidates, and non-degree-seeking students above the high school level can all apply, provided they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled at U.S.-based institutions. If your coursework, research, or professional-development study centers on native plant identification, propagation, ecology, or use in designed landscapes, this is the GCA award aimed at you.
Applications are due February 1 preceding the period of study, submitted electronically through the online form linked from the award page or by mail to GCA headquarters in New York City. GCA's one-application rule applies across its full slate of 29 awards, so applicants choosing the Freeman are choosing it as their single GCA shot for the year.
Eligibility
- Undergraduate, graduate, advanced degree candidate, or non-degree-seeking student above high school level
- Study focused on native plants (identification, propagation, ecology, restoration, or landscape use)
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Enrolled at a U.S.-based institution
How To Apply
- Define the native plant study, coursework, or research the scholarship would support
- Choose this as your one GCA application for the year
- Complete the online application form linked from the GCA scholarship page (or mail materials to GCA headquarters)
- Submit by February 1, 2027, preceding your period of study
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the award?
Each Freeman scholarship is a minimum of $3,000, and GCA funds one or more annually depending on the year.
Do I need to be in a degree program?
No. Non-degree-seeking students above the high school level are eligible alongside undergraduates, graduate students, and advanced degree candidates, as long as they are enrolled at a U.S.-based institution.
Can I apply for this and another GCA scholarship?
No. GCA allows only one scholarship, fellowship, or award application per person per year.