Ray W Bausick Green Industry Memorial Scholarship

Growing up, I was involved in the landscape industry since a young age. During high school, I started my own lawn maintenance business around my area. At first, it was just a good way to make some money, but it ended up teaching me a lot about hard work, responsibility, and building relationships with customers. Reflecting on that now, I see those experiences helped shape my interest in an industry I can now see myself potentially building a career in. I am currently entering my junior year at Texas A&M University, where I study Industrial Distribution and spend my time outside of school involved in the men’s organization, Iron Spikes. This summer, I started an internship at Ewing Outdoor Supply, and over the last couple of weeks I have had the opportunity to learn different parts of the business. I’ve worked in the warehouse managing inventory, helped customers at the counter, learned about all the products we offer, and assisted with branch operations. Being able to see the industry from this side has shown me how much opportunity there is for people who are willing to work for it. One of the biggest reasons I enjoy the landscape industry is the people. Every day I meet new contractors, landscapers, and business owners who I’ve observed almost all take pride in what they do. A lot of them started with very little and built successful businesses over time through hard work and determination. The conversations I’ve had with a lot of the customers have honestly taught me just as much as the job itself. For example, one conversation that really stuck out to me was when I was helping a customer load PVC pipe into his trailer and I asked him how he got to where he is today. He told me he originally started working for someone else’s lawn company and was making just enough to get by. Eventually, he said he decided to start his own cement company with $50 in his bank account. He told me last year he made over half a million dollars with two guys working under him. What stood out to me wasn’t the money, but his explanation of how he got to this point. It had nothing to do with the college he went to or whether he was the smartest person in the room, but it came down to him being hard-working, honest, and treating people the right way. That conversation made me recognize that in this industry, hard work and good character go a long way. As I continue my education and gain experience in this industry, my goal is to pursue a career in sales and eventually work towards owning my own business. Through my internship at Ewing, I’ve learned how important it is to build strong relationships and help customers to the best of my ability that allows them to be successful. I hope to make a difference in the landscaping industry by being someone customers can trust and look to for advice. Whether that’s helping a contractor grow their business, improving relationships with customers, or creating opportunities for others like the industry is doing for me, I want to contribute to the growth of the industry. Receiving the Ray W Bausick Green Industry Memorial Scholarship would not only help me continue my education, but it would also encourage me to keep pursuing a career in an industry that has already taught me so much about hard work, integrity, and opportunity.

I am a junior majoring in Industrial Distribution Engineering at Texas A&M University and originally from Austin. I am also a member of the Corps of Cadets, where I chose to not to pursue a military contract, but because I value the structure, discipline, leadership, and accountability that the Corps instills in its cadets. Through my time in the Corps, I have developed skills that continue to shape who I am both professionally and personally. I currently serve as a platoon sergeant responsible for around 40 cadets, which has taught me how to lead by example, communicate effectively, and adapt to the needs of a team while maintaining high standards. I am also a member of Parsons Mounted Cavalry, a special unit within the Corps that has challenged me to remain calm under pressure and adapt quickly in stressful situations. Those experiences have strengthened my discipline and taught me how important trust, communication, and accountability are when working with others. Leadership has shown me that the best way to improve a team or organization is by investing in the people within it and helping them succeed. My interest in the landscape industry began through an internship experience, where I became fascinated by the operational and relationship-driven side of the business. I enjoy learning how systems work, how companies grow, and how strong relationships contribute to long-term success. What especially draws me to the industry is the opportunity to work directly with contractors and businesses to solve problems and create practical solutions that improve efficiency and growth. I am passionate about technical sales because it combines relationship building with problem solving, two things I genuinely enjoy. Growing up, I always enjoyed board games, puzzles, and analyzing how people communicate. I have always been interested in the way conversations flow and how people communicate both verbally and nonverbally. That curiosity has helped me better understand teamwork, leadership, and customer relationships. I enjoy challenges and finding solutions that make processes, programs, or teams stronger. I plan to make a difference in the landscape industry by continuing to learn from experienced professionals while building meaningful relationships with contractors and customers. My goal is to become someone people can rely on to solve problems, improve systems, and help businesses grow. Whether it is helping a contractor find a better solution, improving communication within a team, or creating stronger relationships between companies and customers, I want to make a positive impact through leadership, adaptability, and a genuine desire to help others succeed.

I wanted nothing more than to work on Wall Street, drive a super nice car and, own a mansion when I was younger. Like many kids I had an obsession with living a nice lifestyle especially since I grew up dirt poor. I remember seeing my friends go on super nice vacations, go out to dinner, and even little things like drink soda at dinner and I was always so jealous I mean we didn’t go on even a trip to the beach because it was too expensive. With that said I had a fire under my butt to work hard so that my life would be vastly different and so my parents could eventually retire off my income. I believed in order to make a lot of money you had to go to college, and I knew my parents could not afford to put me through college, so I began to look for work and eventually started mowing yards because it had the best pay for a 6th grader at the time. A gentleman at my church heard I was mowing yards and asked if I could do some yard work around his house and his rental properties. I jumped on the opportunity and he threw all sorts of tasks like chopping trees, spreading mulch, and digging trenches for irrigation this is where I was introduced to the real green industry, I started to take more ownership of the job by researching products and methods to better maintain the properties i took care of and discovered I had a real passion for learning and saw his properties as my canvas. I took pride in making his lawns green and flower beds colorful. It was so cool to see the fruit of my labor so fast and get so much positive feedback from his tenants at his rental properties and workers at his restaurant. As I looked at colleges and majors, I began to realize I loved working outside and painting with that canvas. I lost the desire to work some corporate desk job, and I thought I needed a job where I worked outdoors or at least supporting the enjoyment of the outdoors for others. So that is why I picked landscape architecture I want to make the world more beautiful and work in an environment I grew up in with people I understand because they are doing something I once did. My dream is to work for a company like Ewing outdoor supply where I have interned the past two years. I want to serve the people working in the “trenches” who are trying to make a decent living to support their families. I was in their shoes once and I know how intense the labor can be in that heat. It is my goal to make their lives better by serving them at either a branch or as an account manager. I am drawn to the green industry because of the culture of the industry I have felt very accepted and when I express a desire to learn people are more than happy to help. I respect the hard work the workers do, and I feel a sense of pride since I have labored in a similar way since I was in 6th grade. With all of that said I no longer want to be rich and famous and have nice things. I desire to serve others and help make others' lives better and I want to do that through this industry I have grown up in which has taught me the value of hard work.

My name is Edie Crandall, and I’m a Landscape Architecture major at Penn State. My passion for this field didn’t come all at once—it grew out of both joyful moments and painful ones. One of the most defining experiences of my life was a house fire that displaced me from my home. In the midst of that loss, I was overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure where I belonged. But during that time, I found unexpected peace and grounding in nature. Whether it was sitting in the grass, walking near trees, or just breathing in fresh air, I started to understand something powerful: even when everything else feels uncertain, the earth is still home. That experience shifted something in me. I began to see the environment not just as scenery, but as something deeply healing. I realized that the spaces around us affect our sense of safety, identity, and connection—and I knew I wanted to be someone who could create those spaces for others. That’s what led me to landscape architecture: a field where creativity, sustainability, and purpose intersect. I later took a gap semester in Hawaii, where I saw firsthand how the land is honored and deeply integrated into everyday life. It was a continuation of what I had started to feel after the fire—this desire to design with meaning and to protect the spaces that protect us. I came back with a new sense of direction, ready to build a life around creating environments that support people emotionally, socially, and environmentally. Throughout high school, I’ve always been someone who loves being involved. I served on student council, danced for years, and sought out leadership roles where I could support others. I find fulfillment in being part of something bigger than myself, and I carry that same spirit into my education now. I’m not just passionate—I’m resilient. I’ve faced uncertainty, loss, and personal growth, and I’ve come out of it more driven and more compassionate. I’ve also seen how mental health challenges can impact people I care about, and I’ve learned how important it is to create spaces—both physical and emotional—where people feel safe and supported. That’s what I hope to do through my work in landscape architecture. I want to design spaces that invite calm, connection, and care. This scholarship would mean the world to me—not just financially, but as recognition of the journey I’ve taken and the future I’m building. I’m committed to using my experiences, my creativity, and my heart to create meaningful change through design. Thank you for your time and for considering my story.

My passion for working with the land has guided my life and career, and I see the landscape industry as the perfect way to combine my skills, creativity, and entrepreneurial vision. My journey began in the excavation industry, where I worked in my family’s business during high school and eventually became a foreman. There, I gained valuable experience in machinery operation, grading, drainage, and hardscaping projects. From building retaining walls to preparing sites for landscaping, I developed a deep appreciation for transforming raw spaces into functional and beautiful environments. While excavation gave me the technical foundation to work with the land, my agricultural experience broadened my understanding of nurturing it. Managing my own row crop operation taught me problem-solving, resource management, and sustainability practices, while my work at a co-op introduced me to tree fruit scouting. This exposure to fruit crops like cherries and apples sparked an interest in tree cultivation and inspired my goal to grow nursery trees as part of my future career. Combining these experiences, I envision creating landscapes that blend well-designed hardscapes with vibrant, sustainable plantings. My education in Agribusiness Management at Michigan State University has reinforced this vision and prepared me to pursue it. I’ve gained valuable insights into project management, customer service, and the business operations necessary to succeed in the landscape industry. My hands-on work, both in excavation and at the co-op, has helped me connect the dots between technical skills, plant care, and the artistry of landscape design. I am particularly passionate about incorporating sustainable practices, such as selecting the right trees and plants for the environment, using efficient irrigation systems, and designing landscapes that balance functionality and beauty. What excites me most about the landscape industry is the opportunity to combine my technical expertise with my creative vision. I’ve seen firsthand how proper grading, hardscaping, and plant selection can transform a space into something truly remarkable. Growing nursery trees is a natural extension of this passion, allowing me to not only provide high-quality plants for my designs but also contribute to the industry by supplying others with the resources they need to create exceptional landscapes. My long-term goal is to establish a landscaping and hardscaping business that integrates my experience in excavation, agriculture, and plant cultivation. I want to offer comprehensive services that include everything from designing outdoor living spaces to supplying sustainably grown nursery trees. By combining these elements, I can help create landscapes that are not only visually stunning but also environmentally responsible and built to last. The landscape industry represents a unique opportunity to blend my skills, experiences, and passions into a career that makes a lasting impact. I am excited to bring my background in excavation, tree fruit scouting, and agricultural management into this field, creating spaces that enhance communities and connect people to the beauty of nature.

Growing up in Appalachia, nature was part of everyday life. I was taught to respect and nurture the land around me; ever since it has become a core value. Many of these lessons were to understand how to move with the terrain, like walking down a steep hill sideways to prevent slipping into the splits, as well as seeing Queen's Lace and giving this plant a wide radius to avoid chiggers. The valley taught me how to look for signs of large storms coming as the leaves showed their undersides before the storm hit. A gravel road snaked throughout the mountainous community leading to my home, following the path into the open space. There our home sat on a small hill with a large pasture directly behind it. The only thing separating our home, the great prairie, and the tall mountain was a winding creek created by the mountain runoff. I lived in a poverty-stricken community during my primary years. Still, nature was always there for the adventures my imagination could conjure. We were hiking in the mountains, swinging on the handmade tree swing, playing "drive-thru" with our bikes on our small porch, climbing in the thick, lush shrubs, and going down to the creek to engineer the loudest dam I could. Creating something from inspiration and my imagination brings me great joy and peace. Learning that there was a career in designing landscapes for under-served communities and people with disabilities immediately grabbed my attention while studying public horticulture and landscape design at the University of Tennessee. Creating accessible landscapes for many has become a great passion of mine. A notable amount of this ambition has come from my observations throughout my formative years. For example, my church's congregation included people with mobility aids, visually impaired members, and those with memory complications. I observed their interaction with the gorgeous landscape around us, acknowledging the lack of design or thought put into who would be utilizing the land. As time progressed and I met my best friend, she became disabled due to a traumatic brain injury. As she navigated her new obstacle, I wanted to be as accommodating as possible. Having her visit me here at MSU, and ensuring I could find the closest parking accessible for mobility aids, was an immediate thought. Recalling these memories helped me realize how critical accessible landscapes are. Another moment of impact was volunteering at the senior living and memory care facility, where I saw how plants could have one of the quietest residents, telling me what plants they used to grow and their favorites to admire. Seeing the information I acquired from my public horticulture class put into effect was astounding. Witnessing the immediate impact of landscapes confirmed how much I want to be a part of the design process. My goal is to leave a positive environmental impact for future generations to enjoy along with the generations here today. Whether having the opportunity to work in national parks to help with trails, preserve the environment, or regenerate damaged land. The endless opportunities landscape architects have fostered my passion for designing. I look forward to leaving a beautiful legacy of creativity in nature.

I am an avid golfer whose passion for the quality of golf courses I play began at a young age. I played junior golf and spent my summers at the golf course, practicing and playing almost every day. In addition to experiencing the golf courses I played in my hometown, I was fortunate enough to see some of the most pristine courses around the country while traveling to watch my brother’s college golf team compete. Experiencing the difference between these top golf clubs and the local courses I played initiated my passion for the green industry. While playing junior golf, I gained experience as a caddy and first tee manager at Great Oaks Country Club in Rochester, Michigan. I also worked in the professional shop and at the bag drop at Naples Grande Golf Club in Naples, Florida in 2016. Before pursuing my degree in Golf Course Turf Management, I graduated from Michigan State University in 2019 with a degree in Communications. From there, I began a career in mortgage underwriting and was quite successful, but I always wondered how I could work in the golf industry. I began to realize that my true passion revolved around anything related to golf, which prompted me to consider working at a golf club on the maintenance side of the golf course operation, thinking that my 20 years of golf experience and passion for the game could go hand in hand with having a career overseeing and maintaining a golf course as a superintendent. Last summer, I left my job as a mortgage underwriter and joined the grounds crew at Bloomfield Hills Country Club in Bloomfield, Michigan to see if I would enjoy working the agronomy side of the industry. Working on a golf course felt like I was coming home and I fell in love with my new job after just a few days. I enrolled in the 2-year Golf Course Turf Management program at Michigan State University and anticipate a completion date of March 2024. Within this program, I jumped at the opportunity to intern with the grounds crew at Jupiter Hills Club in Jupiter, Florida. This has been an incredible experience as I put agronomic principles into practice daily, and applying concepts from my classes has been very fulfilling. Upon finishing the Turf program, my initial goal is to work as an assistant superintendent, where I wake up every day and head to the golf course. Ultimately, I plan to make a difference within the green industry by leading a successful team as a superintendent at a premier golf course, measured by the course's playability and a strong supportive environment. Not only is it essential to have the skills required to know when to mow, fertilize, cultivate, irrigate, etc., but it is also important to understand how a great golf course should play and what it should look like. As a golfer, I have an eye for this. My combined background in golf and communications, both educationally and working within professional teams, has provided me with a great understanding of how a golf course is run and equipped me with the necessary skills to lead a successful team and excel in the green industry. From my experience, a team with a great leader is more efficient than one with a leader who doesn’t seem to care for everyone. I look forward to leading an effective team responsible for increasing golfers’ enjoyment while they play the game I love and maintaining a great golf course that adds to their fun.

It feels like just yesterday I was racing off the bus with my sister, Willow, to our backyard to make mud and paint it on the exterior of the basement walls. We spent all the time we could outside, finding toads and creating an imaginary world where we cooked with mother nature’s materials. I believe deeply that these experiences and memories with nature contributed largely to my development and who I am now. My name is Ava Yon and I am 20 years old, studying landscape architecture at Michigan State University. This is my first year in the program, but my second year at MSU. Through my connections with nature at a young age, my fifteen years as a dancer, and search for creative outlets in my everyday life I found landscape architecture to check all of my boxes. Last year, March 27, 2022, I lost my sister, Willow. At twenty-one years old, she was taken by a drunk driver driving the wrong way on the highway in Grand Rapids, MI. Willow attended Kendall College for industrial design and would be graduating this spring. She was creative and outgoing, infectious around other people, always pushing others to try new things and be a better person. Since this incident, my life has changed astronomically. I’ve had to do a lot of challenging things like writing her obituary, battling the at-fault driver in court, and currently helping my mom beat breast cancer. Greatest of all, I have had to learn to live without my best friend. Through it all, I have been able to rely on my creative outlet in landscape architecture consistently. My days can be easily swallowed by post-traumatic stress and grief. If you know grief, you know that it is strictly paralyzing. Using my creativity helps me pull myself out. I truly love working in the studio and creating design concepts that relate to an environment. I find peace and joy in my time at school and work very hard to maintain my grades and quality of work. My drive to become a great landscape architect stems from my sister and the positive attributes she would have given to the world. I feel a responsibility and aim to increase the quality of life of those who are still able to live their lives here on earth. The world population recently reached seven billion people, a number hard to visualize. As populations increase, it is vital to implement plans that can handle such populations. My example of this is the highway systems in Grand Rapids not adapting to their increased population causing many disasters. How do we adapt to these vast increases in populations? Sustainability is the simple, broad answer. The importance of designs supporting the current generation without harming future generations. Successful designs are sustainable, and I strive to be a successful landscape architect. I will close this out by offering my greatest condolences to the reader, as I found that you just passed one year without Ray. I searched Ray Bausick, learning several things about him and who he was, and still is. I feel it is important to share that with you to know that this scholarship is truly keeping him in memory. Finding ways to honor and remember those lost is important, a reason why my family started a visual arts scholarship at my previous high school in honor of Willow, similarly. Willow gets me out of bed every morning and reminds me that little discrepancies do not make a bad day. I will forever use her legacy to make positive impacts throughout my career.