Master Gardener Class of 2022 graduates in Riverside, awards given

Desert Sun staff
·2 min read
Master Gardener graduates in attendance were David Lahti, Jennifer Bliton, Jasmine Ocegueda, David Frelinger, Deraun Coleman and Bob Freel (back row), Melanie Stolworthy, Linda Williams, Penelope Chick, Norma Larson, Laura Lampers, Jungmiwha Bullock Nelson, Pamela Rose Morisoli, Clifford Morrison, Monique Gordon, Roger Tansey and Younhee Choi (second row), Steven Moreno, Marta Lieu Nguyen, Meagan Judkins and Pamela Elias (front row).

Congratulations go to the Class of 2022 University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener graduates in Riverside County.

The goal of the program is to extend research-based information on sustainable landscaping; growing food in home, community, and school gardens; and growing healthy communities for residents of Riverside County through trained volunteers.

Recent graduates successfully completed an extensive six-month education program and volunteer requirements. The graduation ceremony took place June 12 at the Rose Garden at Fairmount Park in Riverside.

Graduates included Lori Anderson, Jennifer Bliton, Precious Carter, Penelope Chick, Younhee Choi, Deraun Coleman, Susan Costa, Pamela Elias, JoAnn Farver, Bob Freel, David Frelinger, Monique Gordon, Meagan Judkins, David Lahti, Laura Lampers, Norma Larson, Rachel Meeker, Steven Moreno, Pamela Rose Morisoli, Clifford Morrison, Jungmiwha Bullock Nelson, Marta Lieu Nguyen, Jasmine Ocegueda, Steve Scott, Melanie Stolworthy, Roger Tansey, Heather Vuyancih, Janet West, Linda Williams and Jamie Worth.

Melody M. Knox, Rita Clemons, Rosa Olaiz and Clifford Morrison were among the attendees.
Melody M. Knox, Rita Clemons, Rosa Olaiz and Clifford Morrison were among the attendees.

In addition to their Master Gardener certificates, special certificates were also awarded to certain graduates.

Master Gardener graduate Morrison received three special awards: “Outstanding Trainee,” the 100-hour pin and the 250-hour pin. He received the most hours of all the recent graduates.

Graduates Moreno and Morisoli both received two special awards: “Outstanding Trainee” and their 100-hour pin. Also receiving two awards each was Frelinger, Lahti and Elias; they received the “Spirit of Master Gardener” and their 100-hour pin awards.

Lampers, Nguyen and Ocegueda also received their 100-hour pin awards.

A special thank you goes to the Class of 2022 Class Coordinator Melody M. Knox, Volunteer Services Coordinator Rosa Olaiz, UCCE Area Environmental Horticulture Advisor and Master Gardener Program Director Janet Hartin and Area County Director for UCCE San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange Counties Rita L. Clemons. Thank you to the many esteemed instructors who provided the invaluable training and the mentors that provided guidance throughout the program to the students.

The “Class of 2022” graduation was dedicated in memory of Martha Tureen, Class of 2015 and Christine Curtis, Class of 2017.

The program's goal is to extend research-based information on sustainable landscaping; growing food in home, community, and school gardens; and growing healthy communities to residents of Riverside County through trained volunteers.
The program's goal is to extend research-based information on sustainable landscaping; growing food in home, community, and school gardens; and growing healthy communities to residents of Riverside County through trained volunteers.

The organization would also like to give special thanks to the graduation committee for its outstanding efforts to make the ceremony such a beautiful and memorable event.

Have gardening and landscaping questions? The UCCE Master Gardener program has a free helpline. Call (951) 683-6491 or email anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu.

The UC Master Gardener Program is under the umbrella of The Regents of the University of California a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener with the next class, visit ucanr.edu/sites/riversidemg.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Master Gardener Class of 2022 graduates in Riverside, awards given