NCWF Scholarships for Future Wildlife Professionals

Each year the North Carolina Wildlife Federation provides up to seven grants to students, awarded as either seven $1,000 grants, or six grants in the amount of $1000 and one $2,500 Conservation Leadership grant to a student of exemplary merit. Three grants are reserved for undergraduates and three are reserved for post-graduate candidates. All applicants are encouraged to apply for the $2500 grant.

Candidates for scholarships must be enrolled full time and attending an accredited North Carolina college or university. Scholarships are for college students majoring in the areas of wildlife, fisheries, forestry, conservation or environment. Applications will be accepted from students enrolled in either 2-year or 4-year programs who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Rising freshmen are not eligible to apply.

We appreciate the opportunity to identify and recognize deserving students and provide scholarship aid. Please visit www.ncwf.org/scholarships to apply online. Need and socio-economic elements are considered, and a good record of scholarship and extra-curricular activities have an impact on final decisions. If you are unable to submit your application online, please call (919) 833-1923, ext. 104, to request permission to submit by postal mail and to receive a copy of the application.

All applications and required documents must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), on Friday, June 16, 2023.

Scholarship award winners will be notified no later than August 1 at the email address provided. NCWF receives a high volume of applicants. If you do not receive an award notification by August 1, you were not selected and we hope you will apply again in the future, should you have a need.

If you are interested in making a gift to sponsor a scholarship, please contact Kate Greiner, NCWF VP of Philanthropy, at (704) 332-5696.

Since the 1970s, North Carolina Wildlife Federation has awarded scholarships to more than 300 college students from across the state to follow their dreams of studying and working in the wildlife and conservation fields.

NCWF provides up to seven grants to full-time students (graduate or undergraduate) who are enrolled in and attending an accredited NC college or university, including two-year programs. Eligible students must be majoring in the areas of wildlife, fisheries, forestry, conservation or the environment.

We appreciate the opportunity to identify and recognize deserving students and provide scholarship aid. Need and socio-economic elements are considered, and a good record of scholarship and extra-curricular involvement has an impact on final decisions.

Want to help? Underwrite a Student Scholarship

You or your company can make a positive difference for North Carolina students and for wildlife by underwriting a one-year NCWF Student Scholarship beginning with a tax-deductible gift of $1,000. Permanent scholarships can also be established in your name or in honor or in memory of someone.

NCWF has helped more than 300 students become professional conservationists working to protect North Carolina’s wildlife and wild places. With your support, we can help even more students to ensure a heritage of wildlife conservation in North Carolina.

To learn more, please contact Kate Greiner, NCWF VP of Philanthropy, at (704) 332-5696.

Past Recipients

We are proud of all of our scholarship applicants, many of whom have achieved significant success in the conservation field. Other past recipients include:

  • Jonathan Marchal (2004), director of education at The North Carolina Arboretum and the 2021 Environmental Educator of the Year winner at our 57th annual Governor's Conservation Achievement Awards banquet.
  • Scott Fletcher (1985), now a longtime NCWF partner who serves as the natural resources manager for Duke Energy.
  • Erin Singer McCombs (2008) works to restore streams as associate conservation director with American Rivers.
  • R. Wilson Laney (1973) is a recently retired senior biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who serves on NCWF's Board of Directors.
  • Dr. David Cobb (1982), former wildlife management chief for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

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