NC State University
Stokes County
Major: Agriculture Sciences w/ concentration in soil science and agrotechnology
Major: Agriculture Sciences w/ concentration in soil science and agrotechnology
Active programs
Careers in Conservation Scholarship Program
APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN
Deadline to Apply: March 31, 2026 at 11:59pm
Awards announced May 2026
Note: No late applications will be accepted. Please be sure to read the Program Criteria thoroughly.
Applications can be saved as a draft for completion later. An email will come from “noreply@jotform.com”.
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 $190,000 from the Bowman Family, Resource Institute Inc., AgSouth Farm Credit, the Bill Hart Memorial Fund (via New Hanover Soil & Water Conservation District) and other private donors since the program’s inception in 2005.
Program Stats: 177 scholarships awarded to 121 students
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.
Current and Past Recipients
The 2025-2026 Scholars
UNC Chapel Hill
Randolph County
Major: Environmental Science, minor in Environmental Justice
Major: Environmental Science, minor in Environmental Justice
NC State University
Wake County
Major: Biological Engineering w/ concentration in Ecology
Major: Biological Engineering w/ concentration in Ecology
UNC Wilmington
New Hanover County
Major: Environmental Science, minor in Sustainability
Major: Environmental Science, minor in Sustainability
NC A&T State University
Rutherford County
Major: Agriculture Education and Agricultural Business Management
Major: Agriculture Education and Agricultural Business Management
UNC Asheville
Watauga County
Major: Environmental Studies, minor in Spanish
Major: Environmental Studies, minor in Spanish
Appalachian State
Wake County
Major: Sustainable Development
Major: Sustainable Development
Appalachian State
Buncombe County
Major: Biology MS w/ Master's certificate in GIScience
Major: Biology MS w/ Master's certificate in GIScience
Warren Wilson College
Orange County
Major: Environmental Science, minor in Data Science
Major: Environmental Science, minor in Data Science
NC State University
Chowan County
Major: Agricultural Science w/ concentration in Horticulture
Major: Agricultural Science w/ concentration in Horticulture
UNC Wilmington
Guilford County
Major: Environmental Science w/ concentration in Conservation
Major: Environmental Science w/ concentration in Conservation
NC State University
Granville County
Major: Poultry Science, minors in Animal Science and Anthropology
Major: Poultry Science, minors in Animal Science and Anthropology
NC State University
Wilkes County
Major: Environmental Science, minor in Communications
Major: Environmental Science, minor in Communications
NC State University
Columbus County
Major: Natural Resources
Major: Natural Resources
The 2024-2025 Scholars
NC State University
Yadkin County
Major: Biology
Major: Biology
UNC – Asheville
Watauga County
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages
Appalachian State University
Wake County
Major: Environmental Science and Journalism
Major: Environmental Science and Journalism
Warren Wilson College
Orange County
Major: Environmental Science
Major: Environmental Science
Warren Wilson College
Buncombe County
Major: Environmental BA
Major: Environmental BA
Central Carolina Community College
Chatham County
Major: Sustainable Agriculture
Major: Sustainable Agriculture
NC State University
Richmond County
Major: Agribusiness
Concentration: Animal Science and Nutrition
Major: Agribusiness
Concentration: Animal Science and Nutrition
The 2023-2024 Scholars
NC State University
Currituck County
Major: Agricultural Education
Minor: Agricultural Business Management
Major: Agricultural Education
Minor: Agricultural Business Management
Appalachian State University
Dare County
Major: Natural Resources
Minor: Communications
Major: Natural Resources
Minor: Communications
University of North Carolina – Asheville
Watauga County
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages
Appalachian State University
Wake County
Major: Environmental Science
Minor: Journalism
Major: Environmental Science
Minor: Journalism
NC State University
Sampson County
Major: Agriculture Science
Major: Agriculture Science
The University of Mount Olive
Johnston County
Major: Agricultural Education
Major: Agricultural Education
NC State University
Wake County
Major: Wildlife Biology
Major: Wildlife Biology
Central Carolina Community College
Chatham County
Major: Science and Sustainable Agriculture
Major: Science and Sustainable Agriculture
NC State University
Granville County
Major: Poultry Science
Minor: Animal Science
Major: Poultry Science
Minor: Animal Science
NC State University
Richmond County
Major: Agribusiness
Concentration: Animal Science and Nutrition
Major: Agribusiness
Concentration: Animal Science and Nutrition
The University of Mount Olive
Transylvania County
Major: Agricultural Education
Major: Agricultural Education
The 2022-2023 Scholars
NC State University
Granville County
Major: Crop and Soil Science
Concentration: Business
Major: Crop and Soil Science
Concentration: Business
University of North Carolina – Asheville
Watauga County
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Foreign Languages
NC State University
Wilkes County
Major: fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Concentration: Fisheries Science
Minor: Forest Management
Major: fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Concentration: Fisheries Science
Minor: Forest Management
NC State University
Sampson County
Major: Horticulture Science
Concentration: Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Major: Horticulture Science
Concentration: Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
NC State University
Iredell County
Major: Agriculture Business Management
Minor: Entrepreneurship
Major: Agriculture Business Management
Minor: Entrepreneurship
Western Carolina University
Wilkes County
Major: Environmental Science
Minor: Entrepreneurship
Major: Environmental Science
Minor: Entrepreneurship
NC State University
Granville County
Major: Poultry Science
Minor: Animal Science
Major: Poultry Science
Minor: Animal Science
University of Mount Olive
Transylvania County
Major: Agricultural Education
Minor: Agriculture Business
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