10/13/2009

Scotts LawnService Donates over $100,000 in Support of Student Scholarships to Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Scotts LawnService has made a gift of $106,327 in scholarship support to Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The Scotts LawnService Scholarship Fund will be a current use fund and will provide full in-state tuition for two students.

“The Scotts LawnService Scholarship Fund in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences will be a tremendous help to our students, especially in the current economic climate. Ohio State and its students are most grateful for this generous gift, and for our continued partnership with Scotts LawnService,“ said Bobby Moser, vice president for agricultural administration and dean of the college.

Recipients will also be awarded an internship with Scotts LawnService at its corporate headquarters in Marysville, Ohio, providing hands-on working experience. The internships will be year-long and will vary in time seasonally and depending on the students' schedules. The first internships will be announced in December and January; the students' scholarships will be awarded for the 2010-2011 academic year.

"The scholarship and internship creates an exciting opportunity to further our partnership with Scotts LawnService," said Bill Randle, chair of the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. "Tying the business experience through the hands-on internship with the academic scholarship is a win-win for everyone involved, especially the students."

The program is intended to provide student-recipients with insight, experience and exposure to the professional lawn care and landscape industry through educational and developmental opportunities with Scotts LawnService.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for us to develop a working relationship with top talent at the university," said Peter Korda, senior vice president, Scotts LawnService. "The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and Scotts LawnService are proud to be able to help prepare young adults for professional opportunities in our workforce."

Ohio State's turfgrass management program is widely known as one of the best in the nation, placing top candidates in the turfgrass industry each year.

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State is the singular research and development hub for AgBiosciences research in Ohio and is the center for associated education. It is positioned to lead Ohio and the university in realizing progress in all significant aspects of the bioeconomy of the future.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, with a full range of products for professional horticulture as well. Scotts Miracle-Gro has helped to grow the more than $8 billion global consumer lawn and garden market by staying connected with the consumer.

Source:

Jane Carroll, Office of Development
Carroll.296@osu.edu
614-292-5220