A commitment to agriculture, education and student success led Snead State Community College Instructor Dr. Tom Warren and his family to establish a new endowed scholarship, creating a source of financial support for students pursuing careers in horticulture and related fields.

The Dr. Tom and Katie Warren Endowment Scholarship was established through the Snead State Foundation with an initial endowment of $25,000. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be horticulture majors or, if no horticulture major is available, biology majors, with a minimum 2.5 GPA.

“For several years, our family has had a goal of establishing an endowment scholarship at Snead State when the opportunity presented itself,” said Dr. Warren, who teaches biology and horticulture courses for the College. “We have family endowment scholarships at Auburn University and Georgia Tech, and we wanted to create one at Snead State because this institution has blessed us. We have always believed in investing in the future of higher education.”

Warren said the scholarship represents the culmination of a long-term vision that began with the establishment of the horticulture program and the construction of the college’s first greenhouse.

“When the first greenhouse was built in 2019, one of my long-term goals was to take a portion of the revenue generated from the operation and invest it into assets that would compound over time,” Warren said. “In return, those investments would perpetually provide students with scholarships to help them get through school.”
Since its establishment, Snead State’s horticulture program has continued to grow through community partnerships, hands-on learning opportunities and greenhouse operations that expanded from one greenhouse in 2019 to include a second greenhouse.

Warren noted that the scholarship will help address workforce needs in agriculture and horticulture while encouraging students to pursue degrees in those fields.

“It is important for local FFA chapters and prospective students to know there are additional funds available at Snead State for students interested in pursuing this degree path,” he said. “The goal moving forward is for a portion of greenhouse revenue to continue supporting the scholarship fund, while also seeking external contributions and funding opportunities as they become available.”

Warren also expressed appreciation for those who helped bring the endowment to fruition.

“I am grateful to (Snead State President) Dr. Joe Whitmore and (Development Coordinator) Kelli Conley for their assistance throughout this process,” he said. “I met with Dr. Whitmore several times to work through the details of establishing the scholarship, and he was fantastic to work with. Their support and commitment to student success helped make this vision a reality.”

“Dr. Warren has built a program that provides meaningful educational experiences for students while also creating opportunities that extend far into the future. His commitment to community engagement has helped grow the horticulture program through valuable partnerships, including the program’s ongoing collaboration with the City of Boaz,” said Dr. Whitmore.

“Through his leadership, students gain hands-on learning experiences that benefit both their education and the communities they serve,” he continued. “This scholarship will benefit generations of students and stands as a testament to his dedication to Snead State, the horticulture profession, and his enduring belief in investing in education and student success.”