Mr. Kim Powell

This scholarship endowment was established by Merle A. “Kim” Powell, Jr. and the Department of Horticultural Science to provide scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled in Horticultural Science (Landscaping) and Landscape Architecture. Kim Powell grew up on the family farm in Davidson County. He developed a good work ethic at an early age working on the family farm. He completed a degree in Economics from Guilford College in 1972 and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from NC State in 1974. He worked at various jobs while in college earning enough money for all college expenses. After graduation, he took a position with the NC Agricultural Extension Service in Forsyth County. He then moved to NC State as an Assistant Professor and over the next 30 years, moved through the academic ranks to Professor and also became a registered Landscape Contractor and a Landscape Architect. He authored more than 200 extension publications and was a regular member of UNC-TV’s Almanac Gardener. He retired in December 2005 after serving as Interim Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum. He currently resides on a small farm in Chatham County with his wife, Rorie. Both of this children, Erin and Sam, graduated from NC State. Just as their father, they developed a good work ethic early and each paid their own way through school.