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TREE Fund Scholarship Spotlight
Showcasing the growth of the future of the industry, this series of articles will highlight TREE Fund scholarship awardees and what they have been doing as they grow into their careers.
Today, we will highlight Owen McKinley of University of Massachusetts- Amherst, who received the Will Nutter Memorial Scholarship in 2025.
My family knows that going anywhere with me can take longer than expected because I am easily distracted by trees. I notice everything: the shape of the canopy, the texture of the bark, the way the branches respond to wind, how the tree has been pruned, and whether it looks healthy or under stress. I have loved being in trees since before I could write my name. What began as curiosity has become a way of seeing the world.
I am currently in my second year in the Arboriculture and Community Forest Management program at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass Amherst. My first year gave me a foundation in arboriculture and confirmed that I had chosen the right field. Now I am excited to move beyond the introductory courses and explore more deeply the science of tree growth, health, structure, and care. I am especially interested in plant health care, soil, pests and diseases, and the ways trees respond to changing conditions. Arboriculture appeals to me because it brings together biology, judgment, physical skill, and time outdoors. It also requires an understanding of how people relate to the trees in their lives, whether it is a tree remembered from a childhood backyard or one planted to honor a person or mark an important event.
This past summer, I interned with Hartney Greymont, a Davey Tree company. The work was harder than I expected, both physically and mentally, but I had never felt more satisfied. I spent the summer climbing, learning from experienced arborists, and developing a better understanding of plant health care. The experience showed me how much precision, discipline, and trust the profession requires. I also volunteered at the ISA New England Tree Climbing Championship in Rhode Island. Watching skilled climbers work with such control, efficiency, and respect for the tree gave me another goal to pursue, and I hope to begin competing next year.
My friends often ask whether I have a favorite tree, and it is hard to choose just one. Right now, though, I would probably say the ginkgo. Its fan-shaped leaves, distinctive branching, and ancient lineage make it unlike almost any other tree. Ginkgoes have endured enormous changes in climate and environment over millions of years, and they can still thrive in difficult urban conditions. Because of that endurance, the ginkgo has become a symbol of resilience, longevity, and hope. Those qualities are part of what draws me to trees in the first place: their ability to adapt, recover, and keep growing.
I plan to complete my Associate Degree at Stockbridge and continue on for my Bachelor’s Degree while gaining as much field experience as possible. My long-term goal is to become a Master Arborist. One thing I have already learned is that the more you know about trees, the more you realize there is still to learn. That is what keeps me excited about this profession. I want to keep climbing, keep learning from people who have spent their careers doing this work, and eventually become someone others can learn from as well.
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