I.P.P.S. EASTERN REGION, NORTH AMERICA NAMES TWO NEW FELLOWS
The Fellow Award was created to acknowledge outstanding members of the International Plant Propagators’ Society, Eastern Region North America who have contributed to the advancement of the Society and to the field of Plant Propagation. This recognition is for contributions to the IPPS through participation, service, leadership, research, teaching or extension work. Active members of the Eastern Region North America with at least 10 years of membership are eligible. No more than 10% of the membership can be Fellows.
Two members, Paul Cappiello PhD and David Sanford PhD, were honored with the Fellow Award by the Eastern Region North America during its 2008 meeting held in Denver, CO.
Paul Cappiello PhD Honored
Paul Cappiello, Director of Horticulture at Yew Dell Gardens in Crestwood, KY, has been named a Fellow of the Eastern Region of the International Plant Propagators' Society. Election as a Fellow is an honor that the IPPS awards in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Society and to the field of plant propagation through research, teaching, extension or leadership in the green industry. The award was presented in Denver, Colorado during the combined annual meetings of the Eastern and Western Regions of IPPS held in September. Recognition Committee Chair Alan Jones stated that Paul’s resume reads like a ‘who’s who of horticulture’ and recounted Paul’s remarkable career as an academic, public garden director and prolific writer. Paul was affectionately referred to as both an ‘extreme plant enthusiast’ and ‘down to earth plant geek.’
Cappiello has been a member of IPPS since 1995. He has served as a Director on the Board and has served on the Program, Area Meeting, Publicity and 2001 Local Site Committees. He is the Chair of the Local Site Committee for the IPPS Eastern Region 2011 Annual Meeting to be held in Louisville. Paul was recently elected as the Executive Director of the IPPS Eastern Region Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting plant production research and scholarships.
Cappiello grew up in Nanuet, New York, 15 miles north of Manhattan. He has a B.S. in environmental planning and design from Rutgers University and M.S and PhD degrees in horticulture from the University of Illinois. Paul worked as an associate professor of horticulture at the University of Maine before taking on the role of horticultural director of the Bernheim Arboretum. His current position is at Yew Dell Gardens, a botanical garden dedicated to garden education, exquisite display and research into new and superior plants for the region. Cappiello has published at least 15 refereed publications and abstracts and has close to 100 non-refereed publications to his credit. His book “Dogwoods”, written with Don Shadow, was published in 2003. Cappiello has received numerous awards for teaching, industry service and research from the Garden Club of America, National Garden Clubs, the University of Maine and the American Society for Horticulture Science.
The International Plant Propagators’ Society is a non-profit organization of over 2100 members organized into eight separate regions around the world. The membership is made up of individuals with a professional interest in plant production from businesses, colleges and universities, botanic gardens and arboreta. The motto of this non-commercial organization is “To Seek and To Share” knowledge and experience in plant production. Paul states that this is what makes IPPS unique among professional organizations: “I have always found IPPS members refreshingly open and willing to share their techniques, insights and observations. In 30 years in the field of horticulture, joining IPPS was my smartest move!”
Paul and his wife Carolyn live in Louisville with their son, Christopher.
David Sanford PhD Honored
David Sanford, Associate Professor of Horticulture at Penn State Berks Campus in Reading, PA, has been named a Fellow of the Eastern Region of the International Plant Propagators' Society (IPPS). Election as a Fellow is an honor that the IPPS awards in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Society and to the field of plant propagation through research, teaching, extension or leadership in the green industry. The award was presented in September in Denver, Colorado during the combined annual meetings of the Eastern and Western Regions of IPPS.
Sanford earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, his master’s degree from Michigan State University and his PhD from North Carolina State University. He began teaching and advising Penn State Berks students in 1989 and he is coordinator of the campus Agricultural Programs. He teaches courses in general horticulture, plant propagation, and plant identification. In addition, he has an appointment with Penn State Cooperative Extension as a specialist in Ornamental Horticulture. He has been credited with over 17 publications and has made over 61 significant presentations since joining Penn State.
Sanford has been a member of IPPS since 1993. He has served as a Director on its Board and has served on the Research Grant and Membership Committees. He was the Chair of the Long Range Planning Committee for three years, and he has volunteered his time operating IPPS conference audio/visual equipment for many years. He has presented many papers to the society and is considered by fellow members as a source of a wealth of information on many horticultural topics.
Sanford’s involvement in and recognition by the green industry is extensive. He is currently the treasurer and a member of the board of directors of the Perennial Plant Association. He has been awarded the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association Exceptional Leadership Award for 2008. He received both the Penn State Berks outstanding advising and the outstanding service award for 2008. Sanford has served as the Berks Campus Division Head of Science, Ombudsman and advisor to the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Club. At the community level, he is one of the original organizers of the Berks County Home Gardener's School and he is also active with the Pennsylvania Landscape Nursery Association, where he hosts the Certified Landscape Technician Exam annually.
Sanford’s daughter Katie joined IPPS this year as a horticultural student. She states “my dad is obviously the reason I am in Horticulture and following in his footsteps. I hope to be able to be as successful and as inspiring as he is, not just professionally, but also as a father, husband and friend.”
Click here to access an IPPS award nomination form.
For more information, contact:
Margot Bridgen, Executive Secretary/Treasurer
IPPS Eastern Region, North America
1700 North Parish Drive
Southold, NY 11971
Phone: 631-765-9638
Fax: 631-765-9648
E-mail: Margot Bridgen
