AmericanHort is pleased to present the 2026 HortScholars
The AmericanHort HortScholars are the industry’s top horticulture students, shaping the future with professionalism, fresh insights, new ideas, and cutting-edge research.
The program aims to set recipients on a path to success with a view of the industry that goes beyond the classroom. Recipients gain real-world insights into career pathways, supply chains, and industry opportunities through professional development sessions, networking, and mentorships.
Meet the 2026 HortScholars!
Monday, July 13, 2026 4:00 – 5:30 PM B131
Hear from the HortScholars on areas for opportunity and advancement in horticulture. Then explore what the next generation of employees are looking for when they are considering applying for positions in the green industry.
Reece L. Bailey
Colorado State University
Reece is currently pursuing his Master of Science at Colorado State University where he is studying horticulture and researching the introduction of saffron as a high value, low-input crop in the western part of the US.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology at MSU Denver, where he conducted research studies on the native flora of Colorado, focusing on exurban and urban habitats, designed novel mycelium-based building materials, and led a pilot study on saffron cultivation in green roof and roof top agrivoltaics systems.
Reece is also a sculptor, with an interest in creating biological art that celebrates and explores the complex systems and interrelationships underlying life. After earning his MS he envisions utilizing plants as infrastructure to design resilient built environments that are ecologically diverse, use bio-based materials, function to provide natural ecosystem services, and regenerate the landscape.
John Carter
North Carolina State University
John Carter is a senior at NC State completing a B.S. in Horticultural Science and Plant Biology with minors in Agribusiness Management and Entomology. Raised on a family farm, John discovered a love for plants between his mother’s gardens and his father’s fields. This curiosity has since grown into a commitment to sustainable, community-centered horticulture.
From interning at public gardens to managing greenhouses and floriculture projects at NCSUs Agroecology Farm, he brings hands-on experience across production, public education, and retail operations.
John hopes to one day operate a greenhouse business specializing in native species, edible ornamentals, and pollinator-friendly plants. He looks forward to connecting with industry leaders and gaining exposure to large-scale greenhouse operations that will inform a future built around conscientious, community-rooted growing.
Ellie Gregoire
Virginia Tech
Ellie Gregoire graduated with a Bachelor’s in Horticulture with a minor in Plant Health Sciences from Virginia Tech. She started her research in undergrad surrounding the evaluation of substrates within controlled environmental agriculture.
In her current pursuit of a Master’s degree, her research continues to be focused on the evaluation of novel crops within hydroponic production systems. Her hope is to bridge the gap between traditional agriculture and controlled environmental agriculture to bring innovation to vegetable crop production.
Her love for horticulture started in 2019 with ornamental nursery production and ornamental greenhouse production, which led her to pursue a career in horticulture. She is excited to bring innovative ideas and fresh perspectives to the horticulture industry, starting with her passion for both plants and people. She believes resilience starts with strong community connections that can be fostered by a shared love for all things plants.
Mason Marshall
Texas A&M University
Mason Marshall is a Ph.D. candidate in the Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, specializing in ornamental plant production, crop evaluation, and postharvest horticulture.
His doctoral research focuses on enhancing the commercial viability and aesthetic appeal of Ratibida columnifera, a native North American wildflower with strong potential for expanded use in both ornamental landscapes and the specialty cut flower market. Through field, greenhouse, and postharvest studies, he is working to identify selections with improved performance, ornamental value, and market potential.
Mason is especially interested in helping bridge the gap between research and industry application. He hopes to work in the private horticulture industry as a specialist focused on trialing new genetics and products, evaluating their performance, and helping growers solve production challenges. He is driven by the opportunity to support innovation, and contribute meaningful solutions that benefit growers, businesses, and consumers alike.
Edilzon Ramirez
University of Florida
Edilzon Ramirez is a third-year Plant Science student at the University of Florida with a strong passion for horticulture that grew from hands-on industry experience. He began working in a plant nursery with no prior plant knowledge, where he pulled weeds and swept floors. His curiosity was sparked by observing growers care for their crops.
That curiosity led Edilzon to pursue an associate degree in horticulture and complete multiple internships, where he contributed to plant trials and projects focused on improving efficiency and reducing costs. He values learning from every task and believes no job is too big or too small.
At UF, he continues this involvement as a Plant Science ambassador. In the future, he hopes to work at a horticulture establishment where he can mentor a new generation of interns. He is also looking forward to gaining more hands-on experience as an assistant grower with a poinsettia growing team this fall.
Cassidy Williams
Durham College
Cassidy Williams is a recent graduate of the Horticulture Technician program at Durham College in Whitby, ON, Canada. Originally from Toronto, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her transition into plant science reflects a deeper calling to support human well-being in more holistic and restorative ways.
She will be pursuing an internship at Metrolina Greenhouses through The Ohio State University, where she aims to develop her skills in large-scale greenhouse production. She is particularly interested in greenhouse operations, plant production systems, and biophilic design, exploring how plants can transform not only physical spaces, but also the way people feel, think, and live.
She is driven by a vision to create environments that go beyond aesthetics and productivity, inviting people to slow down, reconnect, and explore the deeper desires of their hearts. She hopes to build a career in greenhouse management that is innovative and rooted in meaningful impact.