Category: Coastal Wetlands Studies
FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
Purpose: To promote wetlands conservation through the support of young scientists in their field work and research.
History: The Anna M. Rockefeller Fund was established in 1966 by Mrs. Robert D. Sterling with Mrs. Avery Rockefeller to support Mrs. Rockefeller's work on the environmental education packet The World Around You. The fund defrayed the expenses of the packet for many years. Renamed the Rockefeller Environmental Education Fund in 1993, the fund also underwrote one-third of the expense of producing the book Scientists on Biodiversity, published with the American Museum of Natural History. In 1999, Mrs. Edward S. Elliman, daughter of Mrs. Rockefeller, elected to direct the Fund's use to a wetlands scholarship to carry on the intent and spirit of her mother's work in the area of environmental education. The Executive Committee unanimously approved of this use at its June 1999 meeting.
Provisions: Funds one graduate student annually at $5000 to support field-based wetlands research. A student may propose a wetlands program of his/her choice at a leading educational institution within the United States that specializes in wetlands studies. For the purposes of this scholarship, coastal wetlands are defined as those tidal or nontidal wetlands found within coastal states, including the Great Lakes.
Eligibility: Open to graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in coastal wetlands science.
To Apply: See how to apply. Applications must be received by January 15 preceding the year of study. PLEASE NOTE: ONLY ONE GCA SCHOLARSHIP, FELLOWSHIP OR AWARD MAY BE APPLIED FOR ANNUALLY.
Selection: All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of practicing wetlands scientists and approved by the GCA Scholarship Committee.
Fund: The Rockefeller Environmental Education Fund is managed by the GCA. Contact: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, http://ccrm.vims.edu/education/garden_club/index.html.
The GCA now offers 27 merit based scholarships, fellowships and awards in the areas of horticulture and its related disciplines, botany, including medicinal and tropical, native bird habitat, conservation and ecological restoration, desert studies, landscape architecture, urban forestry, garden history and design, coastal wetlands, and pollinator research.
In March of 2015, 91 students and scholars were award over $315,000 to support a variety of academic endeavors ranging from summer environmental study and field work, to graduate level research. Their study will take place in institutions across the nation and some will do field work around the world.
GCA Scholarships - supporting the best and brightest and furthering environmental knowledge.