SEMO SCHOLARSHIP TO HONOR KORNS

For longstanding commitment of Dr. Charles Korns horticulture in the region, the agriculture department at Southeast Missouri State University is dedicating a scholarship in his name.

Korns retired in December after 26 years as an agriculture professor at the university. He oversaw the development of the university's greenhouses and is widely credited with the growth of the horticulture program at Southeast.

Agriculture department chairman Dr. Duane Ford said the department hopes to raise $10,000 for the scholarship fund. Approximately $3,000 has already been raised. The scholarship will also be in the name of Korns' wife, Marion.

As part of the fund-raising effort, the department is auctioning an original watercolor by painter Jake Wells. The painting is a landscape of the Schaper farm located south of Jackson.

Ford is accepting silent bids on the painting, which will be sold at the department's annual banquet April 23. All proceeds will go the scholarship fund.

The scholarship will be awarded each year to a freshman majoring in agriculture, with first preference given to horticulture students. About 25 of the university's 200 agriculture majors are specializing in horticulture.

Ford said the scholarship is in recognition of Korns' great work over the years. Korns was so valuable, Ford added, that he will be replaced with two people.

One of the positions will be dedicated strictly to teaching while the other will be split between teaching and running the greenhouses and display garden and growing plants to be used in landscaping around the university.

Ford said the horticulture program wants to provide students with more hands-on experience in activities related to their major.

"The university has a set goal of providing more experiential learning opportunities for students," Ford said.

"There is demand for graduates with technical expertise in this area. There are a lot of opportunities out there."

Horticulture helps the agriculture department attract students from urban areas who are otherwise unfamiliar with agriculture, Ford said. Landscaping and other related occupations are common everywhere, he said.

"It gives us a program that is recognizable and has appeal for students who do not come from an agricultural background," Ford said.

Under Korns' direction, the horticulture program was heavily involved in local garden clubs and provide other services in the community. Ford said that will continue.

"It is our vision that whoever we hire here will continue that. We expect them to be deeply involved in the region's horticulture industry and clubs," Ford said.