Soil and Water Stewardship Scholarship
Direct application
Eligibility
About this scholarship
Residents of Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, or Winnebago County, Illinois, who plan full-time study at an accredited college leading to a career in natural resources may apply. Eligible fields include ecology, forestry, hydrology, soils, wildlife biology, conservation education, and related areas.
Awards up to $1,000 may cover tuition, fees, books, or equipment. Academic performance is a key selection factor. The scholarship is funded by Soil and Water Conservation Districts in northeastern Illinois and was previously known as the Leopold Education Project Scholarship.
Contact the Winnebago County Soil and Water Conservation District for an application, then submit the completed form with a two-page typed, double-spaced essay on your interest in natural resources, career goals, and a local soil or water conservation issue with recommended management practices.
Essay question
What else to submit
- Official high school or college transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- Be a resident of one of these Illinois counties: Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, or Winnebago
- Be a high school senior or high school graduate (diploma or GED)
- Be enrolled or will be enrolled (no later than the fall after applying) full-time in a natural resources field of study (e.g., fish and wildlife biology, conservation education, biology, ecology, fore
- Have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts on letterhead from high school or college
- Three letters of recommendation (from a counselor, instructor, employer, or other qualified individual)
- Application submitted by mail or email to the Winnebago County SWCD scholarship administrator; deadline February 15
- Submit a two-page typed, double-spaced essay on natural-resources career goals and a local soil or water conservation issue with recommended management practices.
- Contact the Winnebago County Soil and Water Conservation District for an application.