James River Nurseries would like to give a shout-out to Mike Hildebrand, the owner and founder of our company, for being presented with an “Alumni of the Year" award by the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Mike graduated from Virginia Tech in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree. His horticulture concentration was in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design. After graduating from Virginia Tech, Mike worked for Lairds Nursery here in Richmond and then in 1983, he and Al Jones founded James River Nurseries. For over 30 years Mike has worked tirelessly at building one of the most successful landscaping companies in Central Virginia.
Along the way, Mike has never forgotten his roots. He has been an active alumnus contributing time, money and resources to Virginia Tech throughout the years. In addition, Mike, being an avid Hokie, can be found at Lane Stadium for nearly every home football game and has traveled to many of the bowl games to support the team. Mike’s interest in the school’s athletics is not limited to football, and can also be found in attendance of other sporting events as his schedule allows.
His loyalty to the school has been so strong and consistent that even his wife Susie, a University of Virginia alumna, has, for all practical purposes, adopted the school as her own. In 2008, Mike and Susie donated an EZ-Go Workhorse cart to the Hahn Horticulture Garden which the students affectionately named “Susie.” Over the years, Mike & Susie have participated on many committees and campaigns on behave of the school including being members of the Virginia Tech Capital Campaign as well as members of the Agricultural and Life Sciences Steering Committee. In addition, both he and Susie are currently active members of the Ut Prosim Society, an organization created to " recognize donors who are leaders within the community of philanthropy that sustains Virginia Tech, the distinguished alumni and friends who comprise the membership of the Ut Prosim Society are those whose unwavering support of the university epitomizes the truest sense of the Latin phrase that defines the spirit and mission of Virginia Tech: Ut Prosim (That I May Serve)." Mike also currently services on the advisory board for the Virginia Tech Department of Horticulture.
Mike's commitment to Virginia Tech is a testament to his fondness of the institution and expresses these feelings not only in words, but in deeds as well. It is gratifying to know that the sentiment is not just a one-way-street. Congratulations again Mike on being presented an “Alumni of the Year” award!
Want to read more? Check out the VT Dept of Horticulture's March Newsletter here.
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