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Careers in Conservation Scholarship Program

Deadline to Apply: March 1, 2025 at 11:59 pm

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 $180,500 from the Bowman Family and other private donors have been awarded to support 164 annual scholarships since the program’s inception.

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 AND be a North Carolina resident.

Download CIC Program Details

Current and Past Recipients

The 2024-2025 Scholars

Amelia Byrd

NC State University

Yadkin County
Major: Biology

Cristian Hamilton

UNC – Asheville

Watauga County
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages

Dae Borg

Appalachian State University

Wake County
Major: Environmental Science and Journalism

Jasper Schmoock

Warren Wilson College

Orange County
Major: Environmental Science

Sal Ward

Warren Wilson College

Buncombe County
Major: Environmental BA

Samantha Andrews

Central Carolina Community College

Chatham County
Major: Sustainable Agriculture

Savannah Shepard

NC State University

Richmond County
Major: Agribusiness
Concentration: Animal Science and Nutrition

The 2023-2024 Scholars

Abigail Rose

NC State University

Currituck County
Major: Agricultural Education
Minor: Agricultural Business Management

Amelia Foti

Appalachian State University

Dare County
Major: Natural Resources
Minor: Communications

Cristian Hamilton

University of North Carolina – Asheville

Watauga County
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages

Dae Borg

Appalachian State University

Wake County
Major: Environmental Science
Minor: Journalism

Henry Faison

NC State University

Sampson County
Major: Agriculture Science

Morgan Simpson

The University of Mount Olive

Johnston County
Major: Agricultural Education

Nick Reston

NC State University

Wake County
Major: Wildlife Biology

Samantha Andrews

Central Carolina Community College

Chatham County
Major: Science and Sustainable Agriculture

Sarah Huff

NC State University

Granville County
Major: Poultry Science
Minor: Animal Science

Savannah Shepard

NC State University

Richmond County
Major: Agribusiness
Concentration: Animal Science and Nutrition

Shade Wilbanks

The University of Mount Olive

Transylvania County
Major: Agricultural Education

The 2022-2023 Scholars

Austin Carroll

NC State University

Granville County
Major: Crop and Soil Science
Concentration: Business

Cristian Hamilton

University of North Carolina – Asheville

Watauga County
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages

Dylan Ward

NC State University

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

Emma Jolly

NC State University

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

Laurel Gray

NC State University

Iredell County
Major: Agriculture Business Management
Minor: Entrepreneurship

Lyndsey Jarvis

Western Carolina University

Wilkes County
Major: Environmental Science
Minor: Entrepreneurship

Sarah Huff

NC State University

Granville County
Major: Poultry Science
Minor: Animal Science

Shade Wilbanks

University of Mount Olive

Transylvania County
Major: Agricultural Education
Minor: Agriculture 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