The Master Gardeners of Union County (MGUC) have named Marissa Duarte, a 2026 graduate of Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, the recipient of the 2026 Madeline Flahive DiNardo Scholarship.
The $750 scholarship is awarded annually to a Union County student pursuing further studies in agriculture, horticulture, food science, environmental science or a related field. The MGUC Scholarship Committee selected Marissa based on her academic excellence, community involvement and personal statement about the role gardening has played in her life.
“Marissa has taken her interest in gardening and used it to help others, from teaching younger students to growing food for local families,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “That is an impressive accomplishment, and I congratulate her on this well-deserved scholarship. I wish her the best as she begins her studies at UMass Amherst.”
Marissa began gardening in middle school as a member of the Rutgers 4-H Garden Club. She eventually became club president, teaching younger members about gardening and environmental stewardship and participating in community outreach projects.
She later brought that experience to the garden at Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey, where she helped develop a partnership with Kean University’s sustainability and architecture departments to support and redesign the garden. Produce grown there is donated to the organization’s on-site food pantry, giving Marissa an opportunity to see firsthand how gardening and food production can benefit local families.
“My experience leading the Garden Club showed me how gardening can strengthen communities,” Marissa wrote in her scholarship essay.
Marissa plans to study Food Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She hopes to explore food production and sustainability and make a positive impact on food systems and community well-being.
The scholarship is named in honor of Madeline Flahive DiNardo, the recently retired Rutgers professor and Agricultural Agent who served the Master Gardeners of Union County for 38 years, providing education, leadership and mentorship to generations of Master Gardeners.
“We are delighted to recognize Marissa with this year’s scholarship,” said Patricia Paul, president of the Master Gardeners of Union County. “Her commitment to gardening, leadership and community service reflects the values this scholarship was created to recognize. We wish her every success at UMass Amherst.”
“What stands out about Marissa is that she has already put what she’s learned into practice,” said Union County Commissioner Stanley J. Neron, liaison to Rutgers Cooperative Extension. “Her work with the Garden Club and the Jewish Family Service garden shows how education and service can make a difference close to home. The Master Gardeners have chosen a wonderful recipient for a scholarship that honors Madeline Flahive DiNardo’s years of teaching and mentorship.”
New Jersey Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who assist Rutgers Cooperative Extension in providing horticultural education and unbiased, research-based information to the public. Since the Union County program began in 1987, Master Gardeners have provided more than 232,000 hours of volunteer service to Union County residents.
For more information about the Master Gardeners of Union County, visit www.mastergardeners-uc.org. For media inquiries, contact the Master Gardeners of Union County at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 151 Grant Street, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922, or email mastergardeners@ucnj.org.