The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), the research division of the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA), has awarded the $1,000 2004 Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship to Allison Cyrus.

Allison Cyrus is a junior horticulture student at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA. Cyrus is a lifelong resident of Virginia. She attended Appomattox County High School where her interest in horticulture began. Cyrus would like to work in greenhouse operation or nursery retail after receiving her bachelor’s degree in horticulture.

The Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship was established in 2002 by HRI and the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Inc. (MANTS). This scholarship serves to memorialize Mr. Carville M. Akehurst who served the horticultural industry as one of the founders of MANTS. MANTS, an association formed from the state nursery and landscape associations of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, has established this scholarship with HRI with the belief that the strength and future success of the horticulture industry lies in the solid education of today’s students.