Active programs

Careers in Conservation Scholarship Program

The scholarship application period for the 2023-2024 academic year is now closed

Purpose: To increase the number of people working in the field of natural resource management and agriculture by supporting students attending NC community colleges and universities in undergraduate and graduate programs in related fields.

Support: Over $164,000 from the Bowman Family and other private donors have been awarded to support 160 annual scholarships since the program’s inception.

Current Work: The application period is now closed. To receive future announcements, send us a message.

Application Form: https://ncsoilwater.org/careers-in-conservation-scholarship-program-application/

The application period typically opens annually in October/November and closes in February. Funding awards are announced in April/May. Eligible applicants can receive up to $1,000 per year, renewable in future years. Subsequent awards are contingent upon demonstration of successful academic progression.  Current scholars are required to submit a new application each year.

All applicants should have a declared major in agronomy, agricultural or civil engineering, sustainable land management, agriculture education, animal science, forestry, natural resource conservation or management, plant science, soil science, water management, water quality, wildlife management or other closely related degree programs.  In addition, all applicants must be attending or planning to attend a North Carolina college or university.

Current and Past Recipients

The 2022-2023 Scholars

Shade Wilbanks

University of Mount Olive

Transylvania County
Major: Agricultural Education
Minor: Agriculture Business
Sarah Huff

NC State University

Granville County
Major: Poultry Science
Lyndsey Jarvis

Western Carolina University

Wilkes County
Major: Environmental Science
Minor: Entrepreneurship
Laurel Gray

NC State University

Iredell County
Major: Agriculture Business Management
Minor: Entrepreneurship
Emma Jolly

NC State University

Sampson County
Major: Horticulture Science
Concentration: Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Dylan Ward

NC State University

Wilkes County
Major: fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Concentration: Fisheries Science
Minor: Forest Management
Cristian Hamilton

University of North Carolina – Asheville

Watauga County
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages
Austin Carroll

NC State University

Granville County
Major: Crop and Soil Science
Concentration: Business

The 2021-2022 Scholars

  • Cassandra Bolton, Wake County, NC State University
  • Rebecca Burkhart, Wilkes County, NC State University
  • Lila Cantrell, Avery County, NC State University
  • Reagan Dunn, Davidson County, NC State University
  • Leah Freeman, Wake County, NC A & T State University
  • Hannah Gentry, Wilkes County, NC State University
  • Laurel Gray, Iredell County, NC State University
  • Rachel Gray, Iredell County, University of Mount Olive
  • Emma Jolly, Sampson County, NC State University
  • Kirsten Keleher, Wake County, NC State University
  • Camryn Louder, Mecklenburg County, NC A&T State University
  • Sarah McAllister, Catawba County, University of Mount Olive
  • Nathan Motsinger, Forsyth County, NC State University
  • Adam Mottershead, Wake County, Western Carolina University
  • Lauren Slakter, Guilford County,  NC State University
  • Adam Wheeler, Wayne County, Wayne Community College
  • Sarah White, Gates County, NC State University
  • Shade Wilbanks, Transylvania County, University of Mount Olive