Scholarships
Summary
Each year, our chapter awards one or more education scholarships from our chapter’s scholarship fund that is replenished periodically through chapter fundraisers. For 2024, the chapter board of directors has authorized that two (2) education scholarships be awarded in the amounts of $1,000 each.
To apply please review the minimum qualifications and application submission procedures carefully as shown below, and be sure to submit your application no earlier than the opening date of February 1st, 2024, and no later than the closing date of April 1st, 2024.
Objective
The Chapter’s objective in offering education scholarships is to assist in the education of students pursuing studies in areas related to the goals of our Chapter.
Who can Apply
The Chapter encourages all eligible individuals who have been accepted into or are currently attending an accredited college, university or technical school to apply. Appropriate curricula for applicants must stress subjects related to conservation and the environment.
When to Apply
Applications may be submitted beginning February 1st but no later than April 1st, the cutoff date.
How To Apply – Summary Checklist
To ensure your application will be accepted, we have provided this handy summary checklist to help you submit a fully completed application:
- Download the Application form instructions and the Application form.
- Using a free PDF (portable document format) reader such as Adobe Reader©, open the application form instructions and read them carefully, then open the application form and fill in the Contact Info on Sheet#1; fill in Honors and Extracurricular activities, Work History, and Career Plans on Sheet#2; and write an essay “Why I want this scholarship and what the environment and conservation means to me” on Sheet#3.
- Save the modified application form (by doing a “save as” from within your PDF reader with a filename of your choosing, specifying a file extension of “.pdf”. Note: the Adobe license that permits you to save the data to a file in this manner is imbedded in the form itself.
- When you are ready to submit your application, email the PDF file that you just created to our Chapter email address as an attachment. (Note: less preferably, you can print a blank form, fill it in non-cursively with a pen and mail it via USPS to our Chapter PO box : “Attention: Scholarship Committee Chairman; S-N IWLA; P. O. Box 351; Suffolk, VA 23439”.)
- Send your current grade transcript (either official or unofficial, both are acceptable) to either our Chapter email address or to our Chapter PO box address shown above.
- Request two references from persons unrelated to you who can speak of your character, leadership, and academic ability. At least one (1) of these references must be from a guidance counselor or teacher. Send these references to either our Chapter email address or to our P.O. box address shown above.
If you have any questions, please contact Scholarship Chairman David Perdue at , or send an inquiry to our Chapter email address .
Award Selection Process
The chapter scholarship committee, comprised of three chapter members in good standing and the chapter Treasurer, will review, score, and rank all accepted scholarship applications objectively to reach a consensus on the winning nomination(s). These will be presented to the chapter Board of Directors by the Scholarship Chairperson for approval at the May chapter board meeting. The winner(s) will be presented with their awards in June.
Background
The Chapter’s scholarship fund was established by William E. Ashley from a donation of Cornelia Spivey in loving memory of her husband Vernon Spivey, a long time supporter of IWLA ideals and its objectives. Our Chapter’s mandate is to award at least a single $500 scholarship annually, in perpetuity. However, through fundraising efforts, the Board of Directors is able to offer larger and/or more numerous scholarships at their discretion. The decision on how many awards to offer, and their dollar amount(s), is made each January at the Board of Directors meeting when approving the year’s budget. For more information, filter on the Scholarship category from the News menu item. Also, see how the Scholarship fund was established.
Award Recipients Historical Archive
2023 – Hayley Cherry
Hayley Cherry was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by Scholarship Chair David Perdue as shown below at the June, 2023 chapter dinner meeting. She will be attending Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina and will pursue a double major in sustainability development with a concentration in Environmental Studies and Recreation Management with a concentration in Outdoor Experiential Education.
2022 – Maurice Etiemble III, and Thomas Patterson.
Our chapter awarded two (2) $1,000 scholarships this year.
Thomas Patterson is shown here being presented with his award check by Treasurer Tim Doxey at the July, 2022 chapter dinner meeting. Thomas will be attending Virginia State University (Petersburg). Congratulations, Thomas!
Maurice Etiemble III is currently attending Clemson University and is studying Environmental Engineering. Below is a photo of him receiving his award certificate and check. Congratulations, Maurice!
2021 – Connor Kimener.
Our chapter awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Connor Kimener, a senior at Hickory High School, who will be attending the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA in the Fall of 2021. He plans to major in Conservation Biology with a minor in Environmental Sustainability.
2020 – Sydnie Matkins and Jack Van Straten.
Our chapter announced two $1,000 scholarships winners at the May, 2020 chapter board meeting. They are:
Sydnie Matkins
Sydnie Matkins, Colorado State University- Major: BS Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation. Biology/Conservation Biology. Future plans: Work with endangered species, primarily waterfowl.
Jack Van Straten
Jack Van Straten. Future plans: Plans on attending Longwood University in Farmville, VA . Plans to study Environmental Science and Political Science at College, with a career in the field of Environmental Advocacy and Policy
2019 – Eli Hoar (Virginia Tech)
Our chapter awarded a single award in the amount of $2,000 in 2019. Here you can see David Perdue, our Chapter Scholarship Committee Chairman, presenting this award to Eli Hoar. Eli is attending Virginia Tech and is majoring in Agronomy.
2018 – Eli Hoar (Virginia Tech) and Syndie Matkins (Colorado State)
Our chapter awarded two $2,000 scholarships in 2018. Here you can see David Perdue, our Chapter Scholarship Committee Chairman, presenting these awards to Eli Hoar on the left, and to Syndie Matkins on the right, during our June member’s dinner meeting. Hoar will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall and is majoring in Soil Science. Matkins will be attending Colorado State in the fall and is majoring in Wildlife and Conservation Biology. The recipients were also our guest speakers for the evening.
2017 – Jena Cruz (Longwood College) and Kelly Lafferty (Allegheny College)
On June 21st our chapter awarded two $1500 scholarships, one to Jena Cruz (on the left) and the other to Kelly Lafferty (on the right). Both young women are Suffolk residents and are majoring in environmental science. Jena will be a sophomore at Longwood College and Kelly will be a freshman at Allegheny College in the fall.
2016 – Megan Barnes (Old Dominion University) and Nicole Troia (Hollins University)
Chapter Scholarship Chairman, David Purdue is shown here on July 20, 2016 presenting the two $1500 scholarship awards to Megan Barnes, on the left, and Nicole Troia on the right. Megan Barnes is a junior at Old Dominion University in Norfolk and is majoring in biology. Nicole Troia is a senior at Hollins University in Roanoke and is majoring in Environmental Studies.
2015 – Trevor Fletcher (Christopher Newport University) and Nicole Troia (Hollins University).
Trevor Fletcher is studying Environmental Protections and Studies at Christopher Newport University. Nicole Troia is pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies at Hollins University.
2014 – Samuel Gittelman (Va. Tech) and Matthew Herrmann (Va Tech).
Mr. Samuel Gittelman is planning to attain a B.A. in Environmental Resource Conservation from the School of Natural Resources, towards a career in forest resource management/conservation.
Mr. Matthew Herrmann is planning to major in Agronomy/College of Crop and Soil Sciences. His career goal is to re-turn to Isle of Wight county to work with farmers on improving crop yields while lessening environment impact.
2013 – Joshua Raby (O.D.U) and Ben Stephenson (Tidewater Community College)
2012 – Joshua Raby (O.D.U) and Thomas Westfall (Va. Tech).
2011 – Ben Stephenson (Tidewater Community College)
2010 – Leslie VanNiel (Unity College, Maine)
2009 – Kaitlin Xander (Auburn University) and Whitney Chavis (Wesleyan, NC)
2008 – No scholarships were awarded due to requirements not being met by any applicants.
2007 – Joshua Holland (Va. Tech) and Jessica Estienne (College of William & Mary)
2006 – Jason Herrala ( Va. Tech). 2/8/12. Jason Herrala graduated from Windsor High School in 2005, completed his studies at Virginia Tech and went on to complete his masters degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science at Mississipi State. On December 1, 2011, he started a job as Assistant Director with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, working in Prestonsburg (Eastern KY) at Dewey Lake.
For information on awards prior to 2006, please contact H.J. Miller, SN-IWLA Historian.
IWLA National Scholarship
You may be eligible to apply for the IWLA National Conservation Scholarship as well, however, this National scholarship is not administered by our chapter.