The Southern Nursery Association, Inc. (SNA) awarded five students from 4 universities a total of $1,800 for their presentations at the Bryson L. James Student Competition. The competition is divided into three categories of Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. and judging is based on both oral presentation and paper presentation.

The competition is named in honor of Dr. Bryson L. James, a researcher and consultant who served for more than 30 years as SNA Director of Research. The conference not only provides a forum for horticultural researchers but is also the country's longest running woody ornamental research conference. The conference attracts the country's top horticultural research and educational leaders.