Bethlehem Garden Club Helps NCC Student Grow

by Paul Acampora
June 17, 2010

Northampton Community College student Michael MacDonald has been selected to receive this year's Bethlehem Garden Club Scholarship award. According to MacDonald, a Bethlehem native and president of the NCC Science Club, "I couldn't believe it when I got the call. Thanks to this scholarship, I can enroll in additional courses this fall. It will really help me to achieve my academic goals."

MacDonald, a biology major at Northampton who intends to transfer to a four-year college after earning his associate degree, is a gardener himself and plans to pursue a career in horticulture. "I hope I can be a member of this club one day," he told Garden Club members who presented him with a $1,500 check.

"This is a young man who truly cares about growing things," said Fran Wilson, who chairs the club's scholarship committee. MacDonald came to the Garden Club's attention following an article in the Bethlehem Press that featured NCC Science Club efforts to install a medicinal herb garden as part of the College's recently dedicated Tribute Garden.

"I hope that the medicinal garden will provide opportunities for NCC students to learn more about traditional herbal medicines," says MacDonald. "In addition, the garden can provide opportunities for students interested in plant research."

Along with his Science Club and medicinal garden activities, MacDonald has started the NCC Good Growers Gardening Club for students, faculty and staff interested in establishing a community garden on the NCC campus. "I came to Northampton because of the good things I heard about the school," he says. "For me, it's been a great education for a very low cost. My professors have been outstanding, and there's been enough flexibility and convenience that I can go to school and work too."

With nearly 200 members, the Bethlehem Garden Club has been serving Bethlehem area gardeners since 1930. "We are very pleased that we're able to help one of our community college students," said Wilson. "Especially someone like Michael."