Youth Scholarship Program

Scholarship Value: $850
Awards Available: 3

The Apprentice Ecologist Initiative (officially recognized by the U.S. EPA) has engaged tens of thousands of young volunteers (kids, teens, and college-age youth) from around the world in environmental cleanup and conservation projects since 1999. This program has received multiple awards from the City of Albuquerque, a "Best Community Impact" award from Eastern Kentucky University, and is featured on thousands of web sites. View recent Apprentice Ecologist Projects and past Apprentice Ecologist Awards to get ideas for your own environmental stewardship project.

The goals of the Apprentice Ecologist Initiative are to:

  • Elevate youth into leadership roles by engaging them in environmental cleanup and conservation projects,
  • Empower young people to rebuild the environmental and social well-being of our communities,
  • Improve local living conditions for both citizens and wildlife through education, activism, and action.

Here's how to become an official Apprentice Ecologist and be considered for a scholarship:

  1. Conduct your own environmental stewardship project in 2023 .
  2. Take a few digital photos of your project in action.
  3. Write an essay about your project and what it meant to you.
  4. Register and upload your favorite project photo along with your essay.

Examples of projects that other Apprentice Ecologists have completed in the past include:

  • Removing and recycling trash from a local park, river, beach, or other natural area
  • Planting native trees at a school, local park, or in a deforested area
  • Starting a community or school recycling/composting program
  • Protecting a terrestrial or aquatic area for native wildlife
  • Promoting the conservation of an endangered species or area
  • Educating others about wildlife or conservation issues
  • Removing graffiti from natural areas
  • Taking steps to prevent pollution/contamination locally
  • Removing nonnative vegetation so that native vegetation can flourish
  • Improving awareness about the importance of using renewable energy sources
  • Reducing soil erosion by maintaining established trails and closing off short-cuts
  • Assisting the elderly with their yards by planting/maintaining vegetation that provides native wildlife habitat
  • Building a rain garden that utilizes roof runoff to grow vegetation that provides native wildlife habitat

After uploading your project photo and essay, we will publish your work on our Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists and provide links to download an official Apprentice Ecologist heat transfer (for t-shirt). Please only upload an image that you took or one that you have permission to post (this avoids copyright problems). If you do not have a project photo, simply upload the NWP logo image along with your essay. An NWP t-shirt or tote bag will be awarded to the authors of the five best essays on an annual basis. School and community groups, especially those working with at-risk and disadvantaged youth, are highly encouraged to participate.

Three scholarships (totaling $1,750) will be awarded annually to the authors of the three best Apprentice Ecologist essays.

View Scholarship

Sallie Mae "No Essay" Scholarship

Deadline: Apr 30, 2024
$2,000
The $2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and any US Territory age 17 or older at the time of entry, and who meet one (1) of the four (4) following eligibility requirements at the time of entry:A parent who currently has a child enrolled in an accredited...

Be Bold Scholarship

Deadline: May 01, 2024
$25,000
The "Be Bold" Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. It takes less than 2 minutes to apply.To us, boldest does not mean "best", or "most accomplished". Being bold means being:A) EarnestB) DeterminedC) MovingThe scholarship will be awarded to the student whose profile is most bold, according to these characteristics.Furthermore, the...

Niche $25,000 Scholarship

Deadline: May 31, 2024
$25,000
Covering the cost of college expenses for four years without writing a single essay? Sounds too good to be true.It isn't with Niche. We are giving one student $25,000 to help pay for tuition, living expenses, books, and other educational expenses.Who Can ApplyAll high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in...

ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship

Deadline: Apr 29, 2024
$1,000
ScholarshipOwl is your source of relief from the dreaded application process. We put students on the fast-track to success by providing direct access to the scholarships they need the most. Take the hassle out of financial aid and maximize your chance at a free ride in college. No matter how much funding you need for school, we have the opportunities...

Common App Scholarship

Deadline: Nov 30, 2024
$2,000
To encourage students to spend more time preparing for the Common App, Scholarship Guidance has created an annual scholarship to reward students.To be eligible for the Scholarship Guidance "Common App Scholarship" a student must:A) Be in Grade 11 or Grade 12B) Be attending college or university no later than October 1, 2026.C) Have achieved a GPA of 2.5 or greater...

SP Scholarship

Deadline: Apr 30, 2024
$2,500
The SP College Scholarship program was created to help students win scholarships without the hassle of filling out paper applications and writing dozens of essays.To be eligible for the Scholarship you must be:A) At least 13 years old and enrolled or will enroll in a college or university in the US.B) A legal resident of the U.S. or Puerto Rico.Thus...

Geoscience IDEA Scholarship

Deadline: Jun 30, 2024
$5,000
The Geoscience Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, and Accessibility (IDEA) Scholarship program encourages women from under-served or marginalized communities to pursue an education and career in the Earth Sciences/Geosciences. Many research studies show the Earth Sciences are the least diverse community in all STEM fields. This Scholarship aims to counteract this and enhance diversity within the future Geoscience workforce.NOTE: Geoscience, herein, is...

Shawn Carter Scholarship

Deadline: Apr 30, 2024
$2,500
The Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund (SCSF) was founded on the belief that any motivated individual in need should have the opportunity to further his or her education. By removing some of the financial burdens associated with going to, surviving in, and graduating from college, the SCSF plays a vital role in increasing college access and success for many motivated yet...

AISES Chevron Scholarship

Deadline: Apr 30, 2024
$5,000
Chevron will award scholarships to students majoring in Information Technology, Engineering and Earth Science. Recipient must be authorized to work in the United States and have a 3.0 GPA.Chevron is one of the world's leading energy companies, with employees working in countries around the world. We explore, produce and transport crude oil and natural gas; refine, market and distribute fuels...

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

Deadline: May 02, 2024
$10,000
The Health Resources and Services Administration is accepting applications for the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program. The Health Resources and Services Administration improves the health of underserved and vulnerable populations by strengthening the health workforce and connecting skilled professionals to communities in need.The Nurse Corps Scholarship Program provides scholarships to nursing students in exchange for a minimum two-year, full-time service commitment...