Knox County Career Center (KCCC) announced that Kennedy Auker, a senior in Landscape Design & Management, has been awarded the $1,000 Stephen Hillenmeyer Landscape Services Scholarship at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition. The announcement was made in a press release on April 1.
According to KCCC, Kennedy Auker plans to pursue an Agriculture degree and continue her family's farming legacy. With experience in both landscaping and farming, she is eager to apply her skills to further the success of the family farm.
"Receiving the Stephen Hillenmeyer Landscape Services Scholarship, presented by the National Association of Landscape Professionals, is an incredible honor. I’m deeply grateful for this $1,000 scholarship and the opportunity it provides me to pursue my dream of running my family’s farm," said Auker. She added that she will be attending the Ohio State Agricultural Institute to major in both Sustainable Agriculture and Landscape Horticulture, noting that this scholarship brings her one step closer to that goal. "The Scholarship Awards Breakfast was a wonderful experience."
The Knox County Career Center's Landscape Design & Management program offers students hands-on experience in areas such as greenhouse, turf, and nursery management, along with landscape design and construction. Students gain industry credentials, including certifications in pesticide application, first aid, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety. The program covers the operation of landscaping equipment and the use of design software. Career paths include grounds maintenance, sports field management, landscape design, and pest management. Further training at a technical college or university can help students specialize in the horticulture industry. The program has an articulated agreement with Clark State Community College.
KCCC offers a variety of career-focused programs at both the high school level and through its Knox Technical Center. Located at 306 Martinsburg Road in Mount Vernon, Ohio, the center provides career services, financial aid, and a range of programs designed to prepare students for successful careers.
