Submitted By Marisa Guerrero AIFD, CFD
Each year at AIFD® Symposium, we have the pleasure of viewing the creations of the many talented students from our SAIFD Chapters during the SAIFD Student Competition Reception. The students showcase their hard work and design skills, during the competition earlier in the day, competing for prizes. There are winners in each category as well as an Overall Student Competition Winner. It is quite the honor to be acknowledged during AIFD® Awards Night!
A PFDE Scholarship is awarded annually, by the AIFD Foundation, to recognize the incredible talent of the Overall Student Competition Winner. This scholarship covers the costs of PFDE up to $3,000. This year’s winner really knocked it out of the park! Kiara Benavides from California Polytechnic State University, fondly known as Cal Poly, in San Luis Obispo, California was the well-deserving winner, thanks in part, to the guidance and leadership of her advisor Melinda Lynch AIFD.
Melinda, a lecturer at Cal Poly for over 25 years, leads the Gordon Student Chapter of AIFD. Many of her students have been awarded Top Ten Awards during past AIFD Symposia! Her team has successfully captured the overall team award three times. In addition to leading the floral team, she manages the Cal Poly Plant Shop employees, and has her own floral business, Festive Designs.
Lots of practice in “Melinda Bootcamp” helped prepare Kiara, and the Cal Poly team, for their success at AIFD Symposium. Kiara shared, “I practiced for many months prior to the competition and I felt relieved, blessed and grateful that my hard work paid off!”
Kiara and teammate Madison Reaves, known to friends as Madi, both expressed how wonderful their time at AIFD Symposium was. Madi shared, “My experience with the AIFD Foundation and AIFD® members has always been positive and has given me the courage to pursue my certification and continue in the floral industry.”
Both students expressed how thankful they are for the floral and agriculture teachers, like Melinda, who have opened their eyes to this industry. “While my first floral teacher, Brenda Davis Landini, is no longer with us, I know she would be proud to see how far I have come and what lies ahead,” said Madi. It was amazing teachers, like this, who also inspired Kiara in her plans to become a high school horticulture and floral teacher.
It is often difficult for educators to feel the impact made on people’s lives, but it is touching to see that one really can make a difference. The AIFD Foundation is honored to have supported these budding floral artists with scholarships that took, “some financial stress off my shoulders,” shared Kiara. “I thank everyone who provided numerous scholarships during my time at Cal Poly because the support has definitely helped me a lot.”
Kiara Benavides with advisor Melinda Lynch
2022 SAIFD Student Competition Overall Winner & 2022 PFDE Scholarship Recipient
Kiara not only took home both the People’s Choice and Overall Student Highest Score awards. She also placed second in the Sympathy flowers category, tied for second in Fashion Flowers and won third in the Wedding category.
The AIFD Foundation offers several scholarships specifically for students of floral design. Visit our website to take a look! The application deadline is December 31, 2022. Whether you are a full time student like Kiara and Madi, or hope to attend a program such as the Benz School at Texas A&M or in Korea, or reside in the North West Region and hope to attend the AIFD® Symposium in 2023, there are offerings to help you get where you want to go!
