Scholarship Application Guidelines
The FSFA Jeanne Parsons Scholarship
In honor of Jeanne Parsons, long time member and supporter of FSFA.
The recipient of this award may attend the FSFA Mid- Season Summit, an FSFA approved school, SAF Annual Convention or an AIFD Symposium. The FSFA Jeanne Parsons Scholarship is valued up to $1500.
The FSFA William "Bill" Bobulinski Scholarship
In honor of William "Bill" Bobulinski, long time member and supporter of FSFA.
The recipient of this award may attend a class at Floriology Institute, Jacksonville, Florida. The FSFA William "Bill" Bobulinski is valued up to $1000.
The Deborah De La Flor AAF AIFD CFD PFCI Mentorship
For 30 years, Deborah has shared her passion for the floral industry with international audiences through design presentations, seminars, competitions and commentary. Deborah has said her childhood helped shape her career. She vividly remembers visiting her grandparents in Kentucky and feeling inspired by the verdant mountain landscape. She brought that love for natural beauty back to her home in South Florida, where, as a little girl, she planted flower seeds and tended a vegetable garden. In 1981, Deborah began working at Dolly’s Florist in Miami, where she met her husband, Gus. Two years later, Deborah was named the Greater Miami Designer of the Year and Florida State Designer of the Year. In 1986, she and Gus opened De La Flor Gardens in Cooper City, Florida. Through all of her personal successes, Deborah has remained a dedicated and available counselor to other industry members and she has become a speaker whose vast knowledge, down-to-earth demeanor and infectious enthusiasm have made her a sought-after presenter for floral industry events. Among dozens of honors, Deborah was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 1996 and into SAF’s Professional Floral Communicators-International in 2006. In 2000, she won First Runner-Up at FTD’s Americas Cup final in Atlanta. The same year, she won the FTD First Annual Great Masters Design Competition. Deborah represented the United States at the Interflora World Cup in Melbourne, Australia in 2004, and she served as a judge for the 2015 competition in Berlin, Germany.
The Bob Tucker AIFD CFD CFEJ FSMD Mentorship
For the Fifth year in a row, Bob is opening his store and design center to a designer wanting to learn more about design, wedding and event planning and better business practices. Bob began their business in 2004 as a small "mom and pop" and quickly rose in the industry. Bob's investment in education gained him recognition within the floral industry and catapulted him into a thriving mainstay and wedding/event planning business. Bob has been awarded the "Innovative Business of the Year" by the Sumter Chamber of Commerce and The "Small Business of the Year" by the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce. Bob is an award winning and celebrated floral designer. He is a former FSFA Designer of the Year and two time winner of the Bloomnet Florist Design Competition. Most recently, he was named First Runner Up at the SAF's Sylvia Cup Competition in September of 2019.
Ian Prosser AIFD CFD PFCI Mentorship
Ian began his over 40-year successful floral career with three little shops in Glasgow, Scotland. His long list of accolades and achievements include becoming the youngest person to receive the honor of "Floral Designer of the Year" for all of Scotland and earning the “National Diploma of the Society of Floristry”, the highest European honor in floral design. As a worldwide leader in the floral industry, Ian is a committed mentor to young designers. He still takes on each event personally with the utmost creativity and care, making him one of the most sought-after floral designers in the world. In 1989, Ian opened Botanica International to serve the greater Tampa Bay area and now, the expanded Botanica International Design & Décor Studio designs events across the world. His luxury wedding and events design division for über creative events - Ian Prosser Productions - was created in 2012, and is redefining beauty by bringing your indescribable visions to life.
Andie Muller AIFD CFD FSMD Mentorship
FSFA is dedicated to the education and enrichment of our members within the association through the Jeanne Parsons Scholarship and the mentorships that are awarded on a yearly basis. The scholarship and mentorships are available to any FSFA member who meets the requirements listed herein. The scholarship and mentorships are awarded yearly at the Annual Convention during the President's Awards and Gala. The following have generously worked with FSFA to provide quality education to our members:
AIFD Symposium / AIFD On-Line Courses
Floriology Institute - Jacksonville, Florida
YOLA GUZ's School of Floral Design - Miami Florida
Floral Design Institute - Portland, Oregon
Application Requirements:
1. Applicant MUST be a member of Florida State Florists' Association for at least 6 months prior to applying for a scholarship or mentorship. Applicants can be a store owner, freelance designer, employee of an FSFA Member in good standing or must be engaged in a floral related industry. The applicant must be 18yrs of age or older. If an employee of a member shop is applying, they must pay for and maintain their own membership before applying.
2. Must have full registration to the Annual Convention.
3. May not have received a Scholarship in the previous year. Recipients of a mentorship however are eligible to apply for the Scholarship.
4. Must submit their application no later than August 2, 2021. Additionally, applicants must have three letters of recommendation to present to the Scholarship Committee at the time of interview.
5. Applicants will be notified by August 20th as to the time and location of their interview.
6. Upon acceptance of a Scholarship, recipient must notify the Scholarship Committee within 30 days of the intent of the Scholarship. If intent of uses of the scholarship is not stated within the 30 days, the Scholarship is forfeited. All registrations for such will be made by FSFA. Unused portions of funds may be applied to additional programs only with the approval of the Scholarship Committee. Scholarship may not exceed the monetary value of the award.
The Jeanne Parsons Scholarship may NOT exceed $1500.00
The William "Bill" Bobulinski Scholarship may NOT exceed $1000.00
7. Upon Acceptance of a mentorship, recipient must notify the Scholarship Committee within 60 days the date the mentorship will take place. If the date of the mentorship is not established within the 60 days, the Mentorship is forfeited. The recipient will be reimbursed by FSFA for the following:
A. Gas receipts dated during the time frame of the mentorship.
B. Meal receipts dated during the time frame of the mentorship.
C. Lodging receipts dated during the time frame of the mentorship.
D. All receipts must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee with in 10 days of the completion of the mentorship. Reimbursement will be made within 30 days by FSFA to the recipient after receiving said receipts.
Mentorship Expenses may NOT exceed $400.00
8. Scholarships and Mentorships Must be completed before the Annual Convention of the following year.
9. Recipients must volunteer at Mid-Season, Annual Convention or an FSFA sponsored event and help raise funds for future recipients.
9. All decisions of the Scholarship Committee are Final.
