News » 29.04.2025 - US: AFE's Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year winners announced
Each year, one rising star in the horticulture and plant sciences fields is recognized as the Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year for his or her exceptional performance during internships provided by the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program administered through the American Floral Endowment (AFE). The 2025 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year is Joshua Dick of Coventry, Rhode Island.
As the winner, Josh will receive travel funds as needed and paid registration from the Vic & Margaret Ball Fund to attend Cultivate'25, AmericanHort's annual convention for the green industry. This year's event will be held in July in Columbus, Ohio, and provides opportunities for networking, tours, workshops and learning more about industry trends. Joshua will also receive free registration to the convention provided by AmericanHort as well as $500 spending cash awarded by AFE's Young Professionals Council, a photo opportunity with AFE representatives and faculty members, and articles in AFE publications and trade press. As this year's Intern of the Year winner, Joshua will also have the opportunity to serve on the review committee for the 2026 Paul Thomas selection.
In addition to the annual winner of the award, outstanding interns are also recognized and rewarded as honorable mentions. Haley Heflin Kost of San Diego, California, a student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, has been named the 2025 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Honorable Mention. She will receive $250 for her recognition.
"We are extremely proud of both Joshua and Haley for their accomplishments, dedication and hard work during their internships. These two individuals exemplify the spirit of horticulture that carries on the legacy of Vic and Margaret Ball and Dr. Paul Thomas and their tremendous generosity and passion for the industry," said Debi Chedester, CAE, Executive Director of AFE. "We are excited to watch Joshua and Haley grow in the industry and follow along on their journeys with them."
Joshua Dick, Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year
6-month internship with Tagawa Greenhouses in Brighton, Colorado
The world of floriculture has always been of interest to Joshua. It is a way to express himself creatively, he noted, whether that be working in the landscaping at his parent's home or crafting a design for an annual container from scratch.
"The result of working with plants is very grounding, and I have found it to be very therapeutic," he said.
But a fear of losing interest should he choose to build a career in the industry led Joshua down a different path. He spent his first year of college as a freshman at Northern Vermont University studying atmospheric sciences. It didn't take long, however, before he realized horticulture was already in his veins.
"I saw that the college was lacking a lot of garden design and spaces. I created my own gardening club during the fall semester and successfully recruited other students to form and work on this new club," he said. Those efforts resulted in planting spring bulbs, hosting "Paint and Plant" nights and a tree planting initiative on campus. He found ways, both large and small, to bring the spirit of horticulture to the campus.
By the end of his first year, it was clear that he wanted to pivot back to his passion. Joshua transferred to the University of Rhode Island where he would go on to graduate with a degree in Plant Science. During his college years, he worked at several jobs, including Hattoy's Nursery, Landscaping, and Garden Center where his responsibilities included wrapping plants in foil, creating arrangements of potted plants for specific orders and mixed containers, and growing on annuals in the greenhouse from plugs.
At his job, he developed a strong interest in annual and perennial production as a whole. His favorite annuals to work with are lantana, and his favorite perennials are heuchera/coral bells. For shrubs, he enjoys hydrangeas. He wasn't only interested in working with the plants himself but in sharing his interest with others. While in college, he created the social media YouTube channel, Joshua's Garden, where he documents his projects at work, at home and while in school.
Later in his academic career, Joshua spent from January to July 2024 across the country at his internship with Tagawa. It was the chance he had hoped for – an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and experience that would serve him in his post-academic career. He was hopeful of making connections and working with those in the industry who could guide him in the right direction and help him find his niche. Those six months, he said, were a time to learn valuable lessons about the industry. But even more so, the internship gave him a glimpse of his place in the field.
"I was encouraged and given the opportunity to tackle some really difficult tasks and learn not only the challenges in floriculture but also in real life," he said. "I was challenged physically and mentally, learned a lot of myself and how I handle situations and grew tremendously as an individual."
Upon his graduation in December 2024, Joshua was offered a position at Tagawa where he currently works full-time.
"Receiving this award means a lot to me, knowing all of the hard work I put into this internship," he said. "It is extremely rewarding to be recognized for that hard work, especially knowing that I was alongside some other incredible interns who also taught me a lot from their own perspectives."
Haley Kost, Honorable Mention
3-month internship with North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, Pennsylvania
It was a time of turmoil for much of the world, but the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a period of realization for San Diego resident Haley, who found a passion for plants then when her mother bought Haley her first houseplant. It was the beginning of what would become her future.
"What fuels my passion for floriculture is how diverse a field it is," she said. "It's an area where I feel that I will never stop having new experiences and developing knowledge, which makes me very excited for the future."
A student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Haley is majoring in Plant Science – Environmental Horticulture. She is also minoring in landscape architecture. While there, she is active in Cal Poly Rose Float Leadership, decorations department, and the Horticulture Club. She has developed a special interest in tropical plants and the care they require. Her ultimate goal is to combine her major and minor to explore a career in landscaping, focusing on tropical or native plants.
For her internship, Haley traveled from the west coast to the slower-paced atmosphere of Chester County in Pennsylvania where the North Creek Nurseries operates as a wholesale propagation nursery specializing in eastern U.S. native plants. Her three-month internship was from June through September 2024. While there, Haley said she experienced how vast the industry is.
"Through my classes at Cal Poly and my time at North Creek Nurseries, I've experienced how dynamic floriculture truly is. Every day I have learned something new, whether that be a product on the market or a technique," she said. "Floriculture feels never-ending in the best way possible."
Haley said receiving the 2025 Paul Thomas Honorable Mention award means more to her than proof that she completed her internship. She said it is proof that she was able to move across the country for an entire summer, live independently and encounter some of her most rewarding experiences.
"I met some of the most amazing people who supported me endlessly when I was learning and very patiently put up with the endless number of questions I had. My internship coordinator, Rose, designed the most amazing internship program that introduced me to all aspects of the industry," she said. "I got to learn almost everything, from customer service and shipping to the actual planting and growing of the products."
It was an opportunity for which she will always be thankful, especially to those who rallied around her along the way.
"This award doesn't just feel like my award, it feels like recognition for all the help and support that I received, which I couldn't be more grateful for," she said.
Haley said she has a long list of people she thanks for her experiences in both California and Pennsylvania, including the staff at Cal Poly who provided her with the education she needs for success. More importantly, she is thankful to her family for their support, including making the trek across the country to settle her in for her internship.
"This award confirms that no matter how challenging or frustrating the process could be sometimes, I would do the entire experience all over again in a heartbeat."
Source: www.floradlaily.com
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