At its recent Annual Meeting (January 16, 2020), the CTPA presented two Awards. It also introduced the two winners for this year of the CTPA Arborist Scholarship.
The family, friends and co-workers of Fred Grimshaw gather as the Award of Merit Plaque for 2020 is presented in his honor.
The Association announced Fred Grimshaw as the recipient of its Award of Merit and presented the plaque commemorating Fred’s receipt of this award to his family and to the members of his company, Grimshaw Tree. Fred passed away on August 11th of this past year – news that was received with great sadness by many in the arboricultural community. Fred was known for many things – as an accomplished arborist, astute business owner, lover of trees and of wood, mentor and friend – and, on occasion, wit and story-teller. He was always a loyal member of CTPA and a strong supporter of arborists and arboriculture. CTPA’s President Allan Fenner presented the award to Fred’s family, with the only regret being that he could not present to award to Fred himself.
Chuck and Darryl Newman of Planters’ Choice receive the Arborist Citation being presented to their nursery.
CTPA also presented the Arborist Citation to Planters’ Choice Nursery, of Newtown and Watertown. There to receive the award were Chuck Newman, Founder and Owner of Planters’ Choice, and Darryl Newman, Principal. Planters’ Choice was selected for this award due to its sense of mission and spirit of teamwork. The nursery clearly sees itself as part of the broad coalition of those who are responsible for planting and maintaining trees in the landscape. Most recently, Planters’ Choice was noted as being extraordinarily helpful to CTPA in its effort to plant trees throughout Connecticut in celebration of the Centennial of the Arborist Law. That is just the latest example of their generosity and cooperative effort. Both Darryl and Chuck have spoken at past CTPA meetings and are regular participants as exhibitors. They have also been volunteer participants in such activities as being on the board of the CT Nursery and Landscape Association and the CT Urban Forest Council.
Annually, the CTPA presents at least one $1,000 scholarship to a college student who is directing his or her studies towards a career arboriculture or urban forestry. This student must also be a resident of Connecticut. This year, the CTPA awarded two scholarships.
Leeane Marvin is honored as one of the two recipients of the CTPA Arborist Scholarship for 2020.
The first CTPA Arborist Scholarship was awarded to Leeane Marvin. Leeane is a Junior at the University of Connecticut. She is a student in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, with a concentration in Sustainable Forest Resources. Leeane lives in Winsted with her husband and four children. In her application, she stated that she has always loved trees. Once she graduates, she looks forward to continuing her work in Connecticut in a tree or forestry field position, as a forest technician or doing research to help protect Connecticut forests.
The second CTPA Arborist Scholarship was awarded to Felicia Millett. Felicia is a Plant Science major at the University of Connecticut who lives with her husband in Plainville. She is an alumna of the Arboriculture 101 course, a licensed arborist in the State of Connecticut and an accomplished tree climber. Felicia decided to go back to school as a way of building on her extensive field experiences and is now working on a degree in Plant Science with a concentration in Ornamental Horticulture. Her goal is to contribute to increasing and improving the range of woody plants available in the nursery trade. In particular, she is interested in exploring underused ornamentals, trees and shrubs that thrive in the southern New England climate and in broadening the options of homeowners and landscape designers. She is also interested in playing a role in increasing the availability of plants with improved disease resistance.
Felicia is already known to CTPA members as an accomplished tree climber, who has participated in both the Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition and also the New England Competition.
As Felicia was unable to attend this year’s meeting, she is not pictured here.
