GCGM was proud to award the following Scholarships in 2025

Alyssa Wittman is receiving the GCGM 2025 Capstone Scholarship based on an exceptional community project with Green Bay Botanical Gardens, outstanding studies in landscape architecture and recommendations by her UW professors. She is a senior at UW Madison majoring in Landscape Architecture with certificates in Environmental Studies and Art History.

This capstone project focuses on the Green Bay Botanical Garden (GBBG), a vibrant cultural landmark in Green Bay, WI. The redesign includes 6 different areas: an Arboretum Garden, Stream Garden, Belvedere Hillside Garden, Trial Garden, and boardwalk system over a delineated wetland, along with a new parking lot design. These areas are currently underutilized, inaccessible, and facing serious environmental problems, such as flooding and erosion.

Alyssa’s landscape design incorporates sustainable stormwater management systems and several conservation practices. Native plantings are being used for erosion control while weirs and bioswales will store stormwater, reducing runoff. Additionally, stormwater will be directed, filtered, and reused for irrigation to decrease the garden’s reliance on city water.  She is designing landscapes that are inclusive and meaningful to the community through artistic features such as art, sculptures, wood carvings, and educational signage. Celebrating the various cultural groups of Green Bay is important along with being more welcoming to all. Being very intentional, Alyssa wants to ensure that every landscape is healthier and more

resilient. 

After graduation, she hopes to find new ways to solve the environmental challenges faced today by restoring and protecting land while continually learning about new sustainable systems to help in that task.  Alyssa’s values are reflected in every decision for both the environment and the people that live in it. We only have one Earth, and she is determined to do her part in protecting it. As Robert

Swan said, “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”

I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, double majoring in Horticulture and Marketing Communications.  My passion lies at the intersection of sustainable landscape design and consumer-driven plant innovation. This summer, I will be interning at Ball Horticultural as the Perennials Product Development Intern, where I will gain hands-on experience in evaluating new perennial varieties and contributing to the product selection process.

Throughout my college experience I have become increasingly drawn to the dynamic

and evolving nature of the horticulture industry. I am especially interested in sustainable practices such as the use of native plants, water conservation techniques, and designing resilient landscapes that require minimal maintenance. My academic work and hands-on experiences have helped shape a vision for my future, which includes either pursuing graduate studies or beginning my career at a leading horticultural firm with the goal of eventually launching my own landscape design company.

I am truly grateful to the Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee for this generous

scholarship and for recognizing students who are passionate about plants,

sustainability, and innovation. Your support inspires me to keep growing in my field and contributing to the future of horticulture.

I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, majoring in environmental

science with an emphasis in natural sciences, a technique in field and lab methods, and a minor in Spanish. My goals following undergraduate school align well with the Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee’s scholarship program: I am very devoted to protecting and restoring plant and ecosystem diversity. I would love to travel and teach about these topics outside of the United States with my background in Spanish. However, following my undergraduate studies, I intend to pursue a master’s degree in conservation biology, focusing on plant ecology.

Attending UWW has been an incredible experience and has grown my love for the

outdoors and the plants that make up our local ecosystems. I am a member of multiple clubs on campus, as well as a volunteer in local organizations, which promote access to information and opportunities to work with the local plant communities. I also started a research project in my first year that investigates the influence of plant photosynthesis on the Bluff Creek watershed, just outside Whitewater. I took this project to the National Conference of Undergraduate

Research in April of 2025 and look to continue it through my final year.  I just completed a course, Plant Taxonomy, which has allowed me to explore the aquatic plant genus Callitriche, engage with herbarium specimens, and deepen my knowledge of local plant species. 

Last summer, I interned for Jefferson County Parks. I was introduced to many new

concepts contributing to a cohesive ecological system: prairie conservation, restoration, and public works. We primarily removed invasive species (woody like buckthorn and honeysuckle; herbaceous such as wild parsnip and garlic mustard) and applied treatments to defend native habitats. This spring, I learned the benefits and process of prescribed burning. These experiences emphasized the importance of plant identification and why maintaining native habitats is crucial to a thriving ecosystem. I look forward to continuing this work as I intern there again this

summer. 

Thank you, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee, for granting me this opportunity to

further my education and love for botany.

I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. I am an ecosystem restoration and management major with a minor in forest ecology and health. I have certificates in fire science, timber marking, and Native American and Indigenous studies. I studied abroad in Kenya last summer, focusing on permaculture and sustainable community building. I am a member of the UWSP Fire Crew and have participated in numerous prescribed burns, including the spring break burn trip to Cook County, Illinois. I was awarded the 2025 College of Natural Resources

Outstanding Forestry Student and the 2024 College of Natural Resources Outstanding

Sophomore.

I have done various fieldwork, including bird habitat restoration, invasive species management, and seed collecting, cleaning, and dispersing. I currently work as a teacher’s assistant for dendrology and lead weekly plant walks teaching students tree identification. I have worked for the Wisconsin Forestry Center on an oak defect research project and presented my findings at the college’s research symposium. I received an honorable mention for my oral presentation.

This summer, I will be doing ecological research for the Salish and Kootenai tribes in Montana. I am passionate about working with damaged and degraded ecosystems and helping restore them to more balanced and diverse environments.

My career goals are to work for a tribe doing forestry and ecological restoration work. I want to work for tribes to honor my Native heritage, protect culturally significant plants, and incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western science. I plan on getting my master’s degree after I graduate from UW-Stevens Point.

Thank you, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee, for awarding me this opportunity and showing me your support!

Thank you, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee, for awarding me with this scholarship to not only support me financially but also to reaffirm my goals. My career journey has not been easy since graduating from high school. I have explored a variety of

majors and interests from computer science, nursing, and studio art. I have always enjoyed the outdoors since I was a kid and never thought to myself that a career in outdoors would be possible.

This is my first year as a student at Milwaukee Area Technical College studying Landscape Horticulture. I have been enjoying every moment of it and learning so much. With the knowledge I have gained, I had the opportunity to become a propagator at Johnson's Nursery, Assistant Director at Belonging Place

Gardens in southwest Milwaukee, Youth Educator focusing on Environmental studies, and a student worker at MATC working alongside the Landscape Operations management for all 4 campuses. With all of this on my plate, I have been enjoying the journey and striving for a rounded view in this industry.

Once I graduate from MATC with my Associates degree, I plan on pursuing my bachelors in Natural Resources at the North Carolina State University where I want to become a Restoration Specialist and continue to be a part of my community by volunteering and creating a community garden in North Carolina to fulfill my love in agriculture. I want to again thank the Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee for this scholarship and helping me make an impact in horticulture.

Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity!!

What I enjoy most about my field of study is that I get to work with a great variety of

plants every day and that I can work with like-minded people who are just as invested in the industry as I am.  I hope to be working/managing my own greenhouse and/or floristry business in the future. My ongoing education will be helpful as well as the many opportunities that have been given to me. My main goal for the future is to continue working with plants and other plant people in some way shape or form!

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been involved with different research applications throughout high school and my undergraduate education at UW-River Falls. I’ve worked on a range of crops including roses, apples, cherries, and turfgrass. These different genera and taxa have exposed me to a variety of breeding systems and their genetic architecture that supports them. I’ve also been introduced to multiple selection and breeding systems such as metabolomics, marker assisted selection, advanced phenotyping techniques and molecular biology. 

After my undergraduate education, I plan to attend graduate school to be trained professionally in plant science, breeding and genetics. Given this knowledge and experience, I will pursue a professorship in higher education. This allows me to give back to the community who built my knowledge, to train the next generation of students, and conduct research for horticultural crops. 

My career goal is to support gardeners with new varietals of ornamentals and fruits for their landscapes. This scholarship assists in funding my undergraduate education and helps me experience internships, research and classroom experience to prepare me for graduate school. 

Thank you, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee, for awarding me this opportunity

I am a junior at Ripon College, double majoring in biology and environmental studies with a minor in educational studies. My career goals align well with this scholarship program's intentions, as I am deeply passionate about pursuing a career in a botany-related field. In addition, I am driven to conserve and protect the environment using my educational background and experience. My ultimate goal is to work as an education coordinator at a nature center.     

Since coming to Ripon, I have expanded my love for plants beyond gardening and am interested in environmental sciences, sustainability, and the power of education. I am involved in various clubs, organizations, jobs, and research programs that have increased my passion for plants and more specifically prairie plants. This past summer, I was in a research program at Ripon, where I researched prairie pollinators floral preferences in central Wisconsin prairies.  

Also, I attended an Eriogonum Society conference in Salida, Colorado, where I fell in love with the genus Eriogonum and spent the last semester researching the genus and learning how to create herbarium collections.  I am the campus greenhouse employee, and this past spring and summer, I helped to plant and grow native prairie plant species for a new prairie study garden on campus. As president of the Environmental Group of Ripon, I have organized and participated in prairie clean-ups within our campus prairie where we remove woody invasives and clear trash. 

Thank you, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee, for encouraging me to continue my botany and environmental studies journey.   

My career journey has been deeply rooted in hands-on experiences and a passion for agriculture and horticulture. From working on our family farm, museum, and petting zoo, to my employment at the Flower Source Greenhouse, I have honed my skills in growing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.  At the greenhouse, I have gained valuable experience in plant care, propagation, and customer service, further solidifying my love for horticulture.  

In addition to my work at the greenhouse, I am eagerly anticipating my upcoming summer internship at the Sturgeon Bay Peninsular Agriculture Research Station. This opportunity will allow me to delve deeper into the nuances of fruit and vegetable growing, providing me with invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience that will better prepare me for my future career aspirations.

Over the years, I have taken on increasing responsibilities, from tending to our family garden since childhood to spearheading the planning and care of extensive demonstration gardens. The creative freedom afforded by my family has allowed me to delve deeper into the study of horticulture, culminating in projects like establishing new orchards and fields of specialty crops. I have embraced the social and educational aspects of our family business. Engaging with thousands of visitors each season has sharpened my communication and teaching abilities, reinforcing the importance of agriculture in society. These experiences have laid a solid foundation for my career aspirations in production agriculture and plant research and genetics. Looking ahead, I am committed to continuing my involvement in agriculture and horticulture.

This scholarship will help alleviate financial burdens but also enable me to gain foundational knowledge at UWRF that one day will help me pursue my goals of owning a farmer’s market or conducting research to enhance fruit and vegetable genetics. With the support of my family, I am eager to expand our family business into production agriculture, offering educational experiences like U-pick fruit crops.

I am grateful for the support from the Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee. With a strong foundation in practical experience, education, and a network of support, I am ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in my professional career in horticulture.

UW-Madison’s Landscape Architecture program requires seniors establish a Capstone Project which allows students to work directly within a community. Capstones provide students the time to research, plan, and design a project that solves a “real world” problem. These students commit to spending

additional time studying and being directly involved and responsible for a significant community effort.

Keegan Ripley, a senior L.A. capstone student, discovered a “hidden gem” county park along the Milwaukee River about 20 miles north of Milwaukee called Hawthorne Hills. This public park has opportunity to improve its entry to promote awareness and development of this natural resource. While preserving the park for public recreation, proposed developments include an expanded trail network, improved youth camp, new campground, and ADA accessible kayak launch to the river. These changes will provide more families, scouts, and schools with the opportunity to explore the outdoors.

Making the most of his landscape architecture degree, Keegan is also designing a nature-based children’s garden at the botanical gardens in Madison. Developing parks that are to be used by the public is Keegan’s passion. He realized during the pandemic the value of nature, and some of the difficulties that keep people from being able to access and enjoy all that being outdoors has to offer. He plans to also study multiple cultural perspectives and bring more familiarity of the natural world with consideration for different experiences.

As an outstanding student, leader of UW Madison’s American Society of Landscape Architecture chapter, and collaborator with Ozaukee County Parks, Keegan has earned recognition and excellent recommendations from all who have worked with him. GCGM Scholarship Committee is very pleased to

be able to award Keegan Ripley a $3000 Capstone scholarship for tuition. The Garden Club will receive a copy of his UW- L.A. Capstone final publication.

Hello, my name is Grace Kielkucki and I am currently a student at Fox Valley

Technical College, in the Landscape Horticulture and Greenhouse Operations

associate degrees! I am also a part of my school's grounds crew. 

As a kid, I loved being outside in nature and observing the bugs all over my yard. So, when I found out that could be my career, there was no better option! Sadly, this is my only real background in horticulture, and grounds crew at my school is my first job in the green industry! 

As a member of grounds crew, I am responsible for weed identification and

removal, tractor operation, mulching, tree pruning, softscape installations, and

landscape bed cleanup/maintenance. I am put in charge of collection of food

scraps for compost and annual planter maintenance (watering, fertilizing,

pruning/deadheading, pest control). I also water all the new plantings around

campus. I have some greenhouse experience as well. I know how to identify and control pests with organic methods and help with watering when needed. 

I am not entirely sure what I want to do when I graduate, but I do know that some of my passion lies with native pollinators and plants, especially prairie plants. I have been reading about native pollinators and how to attract them using native plants. I am hoping to incorporate these plants into my own yard someday! I am also interested in sustainability and conserving resources. I am hoping that someday I will overcome my shyness enough to be a positive voice for these topics! 

I want to thank the Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee for this scholarship

opportunity and for supporting me in my horticulture journey! It is awesome that this club is so dedicated to helping the environment!

Thank you, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee, for supporting my horticulture

studies at Fox Valley Technical College. My educational journey has been a

testament to my perseverance and passion for sustainable living and holistic

wellness. I am dedicated to advancing my knowledge in horticulture, particularly in Greenhouse Operations. 

Choosing to specialize in Greenhouse Operations stems from my deep-seated fascination with plant cultivation and sustainable management practices. Beyond academic pursuits, I am driven by a vision of creating a homestead that promotes nutritious foods and medicinal herbs year-round. This scholarship acknowledges my dedication to horticulture and affirms my commitment to contributing positively to my community's well-being and environmental sustainability.

This scholarship is an honor and a validation of my journey thus far. It inspires

me to continue pursuing excellence in my studies and to forge a path that

integrates knowledge, sustainability, and community service. I am grateful for the opportunity this scholarship affords me to further my education and make a meaningful impact in the field of horticulture.

My name is Daphne Jacak and I am a sophomore student at UW-River Falls. My love for horticulture started when I was very little. I grew up on a 20-acre hobby farm and always loved to grow gardens, search for native edible plants, and experiment with plant’s taste, smell, and luster. Throughout high school I worked at Witte’s Vegetable Market who taught me how to own a family business, grow, produce, and market fruit and vegetable crops. From these experiences I decided to pursue a Horticultural degree at UW River Falls.

At River Falls I am very active in the Horticulture Society, where I currently hold the position of Senior Floral Purchaser. In this role I organize and purchase plants for sales that fund our society, design floral arrangements for events and sales on campus, and supervise plant related workshops held by the

society. We also volunteer for various local businesses and events and work closely with the River Falls Garden Club for plant sales and events. With the skills gain from my education and experiences I hope to produce plants that will help beautify the world landscapes and introduce new varieties into society for others to enjoy. 

My goal is to dive into the  greenhouse production and/or the landscape design business. I feel these professions are a perfect combination of my interests in art, science, and horticulture. If the opportunity comes about, I would love to start my own business in designing and producing landscape varieties, annual, and perennial flowers. Seeing my professors have a passion for their own crops, I also aspire be able to introduce a new variety to the market as a breeder.

This summer I am interning at the Green Bay Botanical Garden. I am excited to learn about the industry of public gardening, gain valuable social experience, and practice my skills of leadership, teamwork, and public speaking. I look forward to producing plants that bring smiles to growers and will become a

lasting beauty in the world around me. 

I want to thank the Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee for their

generous scholarship and encouragement as I pursue my passion in Horticulture.