Floral-Design Show Benefits Penn College Student Scholarships

A recent floral-design show featuring a quartet of accomplished alumni designers as well as current Pennsylvania College of Technology students displaying their artful work netted a total of $2,351 for The School of Natural Resources Management Endowed Scholarship fund.

"The Path to a Beautiful Floral Design," held in the Field House on Penn College's main campus, also attracted $2,370 in in-kind contributions from various floral vendors and florists.

Participating Floral Design/Interior Plantscape students were Maureen P. Benfer, Cogan Station; Krystal L. Brownell, Wellsville, N.Y.; Nicole Lee Cohick, Montgomery; Stephanie D. Cook, Selinsgrove RR 3; Carrie L. Dippery, Lewistown; Angela N. Fronheiser, Bechtelsville; Stacy L. Haun, Dauphin; Lauren S. Hoderny, Erie; Helena A. Klaus, Middleburg; Rhonda S. Leech, Montgomery; Molly J. McNutt, RR 8, Brookville; Robin M. Martin, Lock Haven; Michael R. Merlino, Carlisle; Barbara L. Newman, Williamsport; Melissa A. Sitlinger, Herndon RR 1; Nicole M. Smith, Goshen, N.H.; Becky M. Snauffer, Linden; Sarah A. Tietbohl, York; Debra L. Vanemon, Williamsport; and Joann H. Wagner, Bloomsburg.

Also taking part were Landscape/Nursery Technology students Deborah A. Fowler, Montoursville; and James Gibson, Wapwallopen; and General Studies student Joseph Plummer, Pleasant Gap.

Four designers including three graduates of Floral Design/Interior Plantscape and a Horticulture alumnus offered trends, tips and techniques while creating beautiful and innovative holiday designs:

• Dean Yale A 1977 graduate of the Horticulture Program and an American Institute of Floral Designers premier designer, Yale has designed for dignitaries and celebrities including President and Mrs. Bush; the late Princess Diana; Li Lanqing, former vice premier of China; actress Bea Arthur; and television host Joan Lunden. He was a designer at several AIFD symposia, served on the organization's Southern Region Board of Directors, and won numerous competitions including Florida's Sunshine Cup.
• Amanda L. Garman Garman, a 1996 alumnus and an Associated Landscape Contractors of America-certified interior landscape technician, began her career on the spacious interiorscape at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. There, she contributed to set designs for singer Faith Hill, and for the Country Music and ASCAP awards. Since returning to Pennsylvania, she has worked for Woodrings Floral Gardens and Lowe's.
• Michael A. Hasco A 1999 graduate, Hasco completed a floral-art internship at Longwood Gardens, where his Italian Christmas tree was a focal point of the 2000 holiday display. A recipient of the Jim Treadaway Memorial Scholarship at the AIFD National Symposium in San Diego, he is working toward the institute's accreditation in floral design.
• Jill E. Hoffines Hoffines is owner/operator of Floral Designs of Mount Joy, a full-service shop now in its second year of business. The 2000 alumnus has taught adult-education courses and is active as a presenter to (and a member of) many community organizations. She was named Mount Joy's "Business Professional Woman of the Year" for 2004.

Serving as commentator was Christine A. Fink, a floral-design instructor and floral-event coordinator at Penn College, and a 2004 inductee into the prestigious AIFD. In her 40 years' experience, she has studied with designers worldwide, taught at the Pennsylvania Floral Industry Association annual convention and presented floral demonstrations across the commonwealth.

The evening concluded with an auction of featured floral designs, with net proceeds benefiting the scholarship fund.

For more information about academic programs offered by the School of Natural Resources Management at Penn College, call (570) 320-8038, send e-mail or visit on the Web.