Since 1999, the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore (GCES) has awarded an annual merit-based scholarship to a graduating high school senior who attends a Talbot County school or is home-schooled. The award is given at Awards Night to a senior who expects to major in horticulture, landscape architecture or design, botany, environmental science or a related field in college, community college, or a certified program. Over 29 scholarships have been awarded totaling approximately $70,000 dollars since the award was established 27 years ago. Previous recipients have become successful teachers, landscape architects, designers and environmental researchers on the Eastern Shore and around the country.
The GCES holds a major bi-annual fundraising event to raise money for its merit- based scholarships. This year’s fund raiser is the return of the exciting “She Shed” Sale event which will be held this time on May 29 and 30 from 9am to 4pm. and May 31 from 9a.m. to 2p.m. in an historic home at 133 Washington Street in Easton, with plenty of parking next door in the old Safeway parking lot. Shoppers will find many almost-new, up-scale items, including furniture, tableware, home décor, knick-knacks, gardening supplies, and much more. The She Shed Sale committee has been collecting wonderful like-new items for the sale for several months and hopes that shoppers will arrive ready to buy the assorted eclectic items. Mark your calendar for fun and amazing bargains!
The quality of candidates in 2025 made it possible for the GCES to select a total of three scholarship winners. St. Michaels High School graduate Madelynne Plog received $6,000 to pursue studies in shoreline sustainability and marine sciences at UNC Wilmington. Receiving a $3,000 scholarship, Easton High School graduate Olivia Orrell hoped to pursue the agriculture program at Chesapeake College. Kiera Bertrand, a St. Michaels High School graduate, received a $3,000 scholarship and planned to study wildlife biology at Salisbury University. Proceeds from the GCES fundraisers make it possible to award generous scholarships each year.
In addition to awarding scholarships since 1999, the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore contributes to various community service projects in Talbot County, has restored and now maintains Thompson Park in downtown Easton, and promotes environmentally sound landscape practices for the community.
For more information about GCES programs, how to apply for a scholarship, or to make a contribution to the scholarship fund, write to GCES, P.O. Box 1924, Easton MD, 21601
