1:17 p.m., March 23, 2009----The University of Delaware's Longwood Graduate Program, which this year saw a dramatic increase in the number of applicants for its distinguished master's program in public horticulture, has announced the five-member Class of 2011.

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Those selected are:

Laura Beth Aschenbeck, who graduated from Purdue University in 2006 with a degree in public horticulture. Since then, she has been working as a horticulture education specialist at the Missouri Botanic Garden. Her main goal is to help others appreciate the importance of plants.

Kathryn Battrick Baltzell, who received her bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Clemson University in 2005. In June 2005, she became a plant science intern at the Land of Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida, where she was responsible for sustaining show quality and guest interaction. Since then, she has worked at many greenhouses and is currently a horticulturist for the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina.

Zoe Panchen, who is currently taking plant science undergraduate courses at McGill University. Her career history is quite diverse having switched from being a software design manager to gardening. Panchen said she wanted to indulge her passion for plants and hopes to work as a leader in a botanical garden.

Rebecca Sawyer Pineo, who is very familiar with UD and Longwood. In 2006, she became the visitor education intern at Longwood Gardens, helping with research and developing garden displays. Currently, she is a UD Botanic Gardens intern.

Dong Ah Shin, who is originally from Korea, having earned a bachelor's in ornamental horticulture and master's in agriculture. She is currently working as the international intern at Longwood Gardens and dreams of someday opening the first national botanical garden in Korea.

This year's applicant pool was extremely diverse in both professional experience and geographic location. There were 27 applicants, which is a 50 percent increase from last year, representing 12 states and four nations. The candidates had an extensive variety of academic awards, outstanding grade point averages and many other educational accomplishments.

“We are very excited about the arrival of this new group of incoming fellows. Their diverse backgrounds, professional experiences and potential for future growth and development makes us very optimistic about their impact on our field,” said Robert Lyons, director of the Longwood Graduate Program since 2005 and also the director of the UD Center for Public Horticulture.

Longwood Graduate Program

Since 1967, the Longwood Graduate Program has provided exceptional tools for horticulture education and research through UD's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Longwood Gardens, based in Kennett Square, Pa., and known worldwide for its exquisite gardens. Both institutions, serving as hands on laboratories, in addition to other regional gardens and the facilities at UD, have made this graduate program world renowned in the field of public horticulture.

For quite some time, UD has had a special connection with Longwood Gardens allowing such a prestigious program to produce generations of outstanding horticulture managers and leaders. This is partial due to the fact that the Longwood Graduate Program has been known for its extremely competitive nature. The process for acceptance is quite intensive and selective.

This two-year program produces the best and brightest in the horticulture field.

Longwood has been known for their prominent professional connections within the horticulture field and continues to take advantage of those resources. Many of the graduates of this program have moved on to upper management and directorial positions at the finest horticulture institutions in the country.

UD's Melinda Zoehrer, assistant director of the UD Botanic Gardens, graduated from the Longwood Program in 1991. One of the most notable things about the program for Zoehrer was the international and national networking capabilities that she gained.

Ed Moydell, associate director of the UD Center for Public Horticulture, also graduated from the program in 2006. Moydell said, “The resources and courses offered at UD were top-notch, and the access to the staff and resources of Longwood Gardens and other leading U.S. public gardens was unbelievable and vital to student success.”

Moydell added, “Incorporating solid coursework, flexibility in research, significant international and U.S. travel, and unparalleled networking opportunities, the program is a truly unique opportunity.”

Article by Rachael Dubinsky