{"id":242793,"date":"2026-04-14T07:15:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T11:15:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=242793"},"modified":"2026-04-06T16:24:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T20:24:52","slug":"prides-corner-farms-establishes-scholarships-for-plant-science-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2026\/04\/prides-corner-farms-establishes-scholarships-for-plant-science-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Prides Corner Farms Establishes Scholarships for Plant Science Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Prides Corner Farms in Lebanon, Connecticut, has provided a donation to support graduate and undergraduate students in the <a href=\"http:\/\/cahnr.uconn.edu\/\">College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The donation will establish the Prides Corner Farms Graduate Scholarship and the Prides Corner Farms Student Success Fund. The funds will support students pursuing a degree in plant science, with a preference for those studying horticulture.<br \/>\n<div class=\"wonderplugingallery-container\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-container-465\" style=\"max-width:1200px;margin:0 auto;\"><div class=\"wonderplugingallery\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-465\" data-galleryid=\"465\" data-width=\"1200\" data-height=\"800\" data-skin=\"light\" data-playsinline=\"false\" data-mutevideo=\"false\" data-random=\"false\" data-autoslide=\"true\" data-autoplayvideo=\"false\" data-schemamarkup=\"false\" data-stopallplaying=\"false\" data-reloadonvideoend=\"false\" data-donotuseposter=\"false\" data-enabletabindex=\"false\" data-loadnextonvideoend=\"false\" data-hidetitlewhenvideoisplaying=\"true\" data-disablehovereventontouch=\"false\" data-autoslideandplayafterfirstplayed=\"false\" data-html5player=\"true\" data-responsive=\"true\" data-fullwidth=\"false\" data-showtitle=\"true\" data-showdescription=\"true\" data-showplaybutton=\"true\" data-showfullscreenbutton=\"true\" data-showtimer=\"true\" data-showcarousel=\"true\" data-galleryshadow=\"false\" data-slideshadow=\"true\" data-thumbshowtitle=\"false\" data-thumbshadow=\"true\" data-lightboxshowtitle=\"true\" data-lightboxshowdescription=\"true\" data-specifyid=\"true\" data-donotinit=\"false\" data-addinitscript=\"false\" data-triggerresize=\"false\" data-thumbcolumnsresponsive=\"false\" data-thumbverticalmiddle=\"true\" data-removeinlinecss=\"true\" data-switchonmouseover=\"false\" data-showcategory=\"true\" data-showimgtitle=\"false\" data-titlesmallscreen=\"false\" data-initsocial=\"true\" data-showsocial=\"false\" data-showemail=\"false\" data-showfacebook=\"true\" data-showtwitter=\"true\" data-showpinterest=\"true\" data-socialrotateeffect=\"true\" data-doshortcodeontext=\"false\" data-loop=\"0\" data-duration=\"1500\" data-slideduration=\"1000\" data-slideshowinterval=\"6000\" data-googleanalyticsaccount=\"\" data-resizemode=\"fill\" data-imagetoolboxmode=\"mouseover\" data-effect=\"fade\" data-padding=\"12\" data-bgcolor=\"\" data-bgimage=\"\" data-thumbwidth=\"48\" data-thumbheight=\"48\" data-thumbgap=\"8\" data-thumbrowgap=\"16\" data-lightboxtextheight=\"72\" data-lightboxtitlecss=\"{color:#333333; 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--smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Lincoln Gillon from Prides Corner at the UConn CAHNR\/Prides Corner Student Success Event<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00115-edited.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00115-edited-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Lisa Sellew at the UConn CAHNR Prides Corner Student Success Event\" data-title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Lisa Sellew at the UConn CAHNR Prides Corner Student Success Event<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00088-edited.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00088-edited-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"CAHNR Interim Dean Kumar Venkitanarayanan speaks with Prides Corner President and Owner Mark Sellew.\" data-title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">CAHNR Interim Dean Kumar Venkitanarayanan speaks with Prides Corner President and Owner Mark Sellew.<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00174-edited.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00174-edited-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Mark Sellew gives remarks about the goals of the funds for student success and industry growth\" data-title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Mark Sellew gives remarks about the goals of the funds for student success and industry growth<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00239-edited.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00239-edited-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Christopher Joseph from Prides Corner chats with Professor Mark Brand at the UConn CAHNR\/Prides Corner Student Success Event\" data-title=\"DSC00239-edited\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Christopher Joseph from Prides Corner chats with Professor Mark Brand at the UConn CAHNR\/Prides Corner Student Success Event<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">DSC00239-edited<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00233-edited.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00233-edited-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Christopher Valley and Donna Chiangi from Prides Corner at the UConn CAHNR\/Prides Corner Student Success Event\" data-title=\"DSC00233-edited\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">Christopher Valley and Donna Chiangi from Prides Corner at the UConn CAHNR\/Prides Corner Student Success Event<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">DSC00233-edited<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00215-edited.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC00215-edited-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"atie LaRose and Jamie Alba from Prides Corner at the UConn CAHNR\/Prides Corner Student Success Event\" data-title=\"DSC00215-edited\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">atie LaRose and Jamie Alba from Prides Corner at the UConn CAHNR\/Prides Corner Student Success Event<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">DSC00215-edited<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script>function wondergallery_465_appendcss(csscode) {var head=document.head || document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")[0];var style=document.createElement(\"style\");head.appendChild(style);style.type=\"text\/css\";if (style.styleSheet){style.styleSheet.cssText=csscode;} else {style.appendChild(document.createTextNode(csscode));}};wondergallery_465_appendcss(\"#wonderplugingallery-465 .html5gallery-cat-selection-465 { \ttext-align: center; }  #wonderplugingallery-465 .html5gallery-cat-tag-465 { \tdisplay: inline-block; \tborder: none; \tbackground: transparent; \tcolor: #555;   \tpadding: 6px; \tfont-size: 14px; \tfont-weight: normal; \t   \tfont-family: Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Grande,sans-serif,Arial;   \tbox-sizing: border-box;    \tcursor: pointer;   \ttext-align: center;   \ttext-decoration: none;   \ttext-shadow: none;   \ttext-transform: none;   \twhite-space: nowrap;   \t-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;   \tborder-radius: 2px;   \ttransition: background-color 0.3s ease; }  #wonderplugingallery-465 .html5gallery-cat-tag-465:hover, #wonderplugingallery-465 .html5gallery-cat-tag-465:focus, #wonderplugingallery-465 .html5gallery-cat-tag-selected-465 { \tcolor: #222; }\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI saw the clear need of graduate students who want to make the world a better place,\u201d says Mark Sellew, the president and owner of Prides Corner Farms. \u201cThey need to have funding to get them on campus and do the work and the research that they do. That compelled me to find a way to help the University bring in more of those students.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Student Success Fund will also provide funding for activities that provide graduate and undergraduate students with experiences that will make them more competitive in the job market. These activities can include conducting and disseminating research, conference travel, experiential learning, and purchasing laboratory equipment.<\/p>\n<p>The first cohort of students supported through these awards will be in the 2026-27 academic year.<\/p>\n<p>Prides Corner\u2019s gift was celebrated at an event on March 16.<\/p>\n<p>Prides Corner and the College have had a long and productive relationship. Sellew says the two have been working together for the entirety of Prides Corner\u2019s 46-year existence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a long history,\u201d Sellew says. \u201cReally, the entire time I\u2019ve been in business. I felt it was important to be able to give back where I saw I could help the industry that has been so good to me and UConn has been very good to me,\u201d Sellew says.<\/p>\n<p>CAHNR has helped Sellew navigate issues that have arisen over the years with plant diseases and improving growing strategies. Prides Corner has also helped bring original cultivars <a href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2024\/06\/landscape-wonders-uconn-researcher-develops-female-only-northern-bayberry-propagation-and-pint-size-purple-sand-cherry\/\">to consumers<\/a>. These unique plants were developed in CAHNR\u2019s plant breeding program, led by Mark Brand, professor of horticulture and plant breeding.<\/p>\n<p>Prides Corner Farms also currently employs 17 UConn alumni.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn behalf of the College and our plant science students, we are so grateful to Mark and Prides Corner Farms for their longstanding commitment to this industry and its future leaders,\u201d says Interim Dean Kumar Venkitanarayanan. \u201cWe work best when we work together, and this is a prime example of the positive impact that collaboration has on our students and our state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>This work relates to CAHNR\u2019s Strategic Vision area focused on\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/cahnr.uconn.edu\/strategic-vision\/\"><em>Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Follow\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/linktr.ee\/uconncahnr_social\"><em>UConn CAHNR<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0on social media<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The donation will establish the Prides Corner Farms Graduate Scholarship and the Prides Corner Farms Student Success Fund. The funds will support students pursuing a degree in plant science, with a preference for those studying horticulture<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":242798,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[147,2224,2471,2472,2303,2712,1875,2235,2225,2195],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[2140],"class_list":["post-242793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-cahnr","category-economic-development","category-gifts-donors","category-plant-science-landscape-architecture","category-student-success","category-grad-school","category-today-homepage","category-uconn-storrs","category-windham-county"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-08 22:01:30","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=242793"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":243447,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242793\/revisions\/243447"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/242798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=242793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=242793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=242793"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=242793"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=242793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}