Investing in the Next Generation of Urban Forestry Leaders
In 2013, The Britton Fund established the Richard W. Harris Urban Horticulture Scholarship at the University of California, Davis, with a vision of supporting the next generation of professionals dedicated to the care and stewardship of our urban forests.
Since its inception, the scholarship has helped 25 undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Environmental Horticulture and Urban Landscapes, providing financial assistance while encouraging their continued growth as future leaders in arboriculture.
Student Scholar Recipients
Honoring a Lasting Legacy
The scholarship was created through The Britton Fund’s endowed gift of $25,000 to the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences and is named in honor of the late Professor Richard W. Harris, whose pioneering work and more than three decades of teaching helped shape the science and practice of arboriculture.
Scholarship recipients are selected from undergraduate students majoring in Environmental Horticulture and Urban Landscapes. In addition to financial support, recipients are invited to participate in WCISA and The Britton Fund events, where they connect with tree care professionals, researchers, and industry leaders from throughout the western United States.
Growing Opportunities Through Giving
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, The Britton Fund continues to make an annual contribution to the scholarship endowment, with matching support from WCISA. Together, these investments strengthen the program each year, ensuring that future generations of students have the opportunity to pursue careers that will benefit our communities and urban forests for years to come.
When we invest in students today, we invest in healthier, more resilient urban forests tomorrow.
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Congratulations to Ellen Haong, 2026-2027 scholarship recipient from the Department of Environmental Horticulture and Urban Landscapes. Ellen is beginning her third year at UC Davis majoring in Plant Science.
Her hometown is Los Angels, California.
“The Richard W. Harris Urban Horticulture Scholarship will be a huge help to me, and I thank everyone who made it possible. Coming from a place where there seems to be more buildings than trees, I was really drawn to the department of Environmental Horticulture & Urban Landscapes. Being able to integrate plants (especially our native species) into our urban landscapes is an effort I hope to be a part of someday.“
Ellen Haong
“The Richard W. Harris Urban Horticulture Scholarship reflects The Britton Fund’s commitment to investing in the future of arboriculture. Every donation helps provide educational opportunities for aspiring professionals while advancing the science-based research that strengthens tree care throughout
the West.”
Doug Anderson, Chair of The Britton Fund Board
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For more information about the Richard W. Harris Urban Horticulture Scholarship,
its application process and awarding timeline, please contact UC Davis directly.
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About Dr. Richard W. Harris
“Plants, particularly trees, are an important part of our lives – around homes, schools, shopping centers, and places of work, along street and highways, in the central city, parks, and other landscaped areas. Trees have been held in high esteem since earliest times.”
Dr. Richard W. Harris
Arborists from around the world remember Dr. Richard W. Harris as a distinguished faculty member at the University of California, Davis where he worked in the Environmental Horticulture Department from 1950 – 1986 and was awarded the honor of Emeritus Professor.
Dr. Harris was dedicated to promoting the professional practice of arboriculture and fostering a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees. He served as president of the WCISA in 1969 and in the prestigious role of president for the International Society of Arboriculture in 1984. He provided leadership as the director of the Parks and Recreation Administrators Institute from 1960-84. And he was the author of Arboriculture – The Integrated Management of Landscape Trees, Shrubs and Vines, first published in 1983 and now in its 4th edition. Dr. Harris was one of the founders of the California Tree Failure Report Program.
In a time when most arborists focused on pruning for aesthetic reasons, Dr. Harris expanded on his early training and research in pomology to teach students how to prune young trees to enhance structure. Working with UC Davis engineers, he tackled the problem of staking and trunk development, demonstrating that placing the stake next to the trunk causes the trunk to grow away from the stake. Representing the International Society of Arboriculture, Dick served on the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers and was a contributing author to the 8th edition of the Guide for Plant Appraisal, and CTLA Chair for the 9th edition.
Well recognized for establishing educational and industry standards in the tree care profession, Dr. Harris was also known as devoted husband and father as well as a patient mentor to students and arborists. To call him a gentleman would not do him justice. He had a respectful, thoughtful manner that complimented his knowledge and curiosity.
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