Scholarship Rules, Procedures and Criteria
Application Deadline: June 30
The Scholarship Program seeks to:
- Promote interest in ground water study and research projects among high school juniors and seniors.
- Encourage high school students to consider careers in providing and protecting ground water resources.
- Highlight the importance of trained specialists to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of America’s ground water resources.
The Award
- Payment of the scholarship award is made directly to the college.
- At the expense of the American Ground Water Trust, scholarship recipients may be asked to travel to a national or regional ground water conference or meeting to be publicly presented with their award certificates.
Rules for Application
- Applicants must be students entering their Freshman year in a full-time undergraduate academic program of study at a four-year accredited university or college in the United States.
- Applicants must intend to pursue a career in a ground water-related field.
- Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in high school.
- The college or university selected for study must offer appropriate courses.
- The applicant must either have completed a science or environmental project at high school that directly involved ground water resources or have had vacation or out-of-school work experience related to the environment and natural resources.
- Applicants must be US citizens or legal residents of the United States.
Application Procedure
- Fill out the application only one time. (You will automatically be considered for all three scholarships.)
- Applicants should provide biographical and achievement information by completing the scholarship application form. A teacher at the applicant’s high school must countersign the completed form.
- A 500-word essay and a 300-word description of the applicant’s high school ground water project and/or practical environmental work experience must accompany the application (see selection criteria below).
- The application must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation.
- Application should be received at the American Ground Water Trust by June 30.
- Documentary evidence of academic achievements and references will be requested from the finalists.
- The Trust will write to all applicants (successful and unsuccessful) at the end of August.
Criteria for Selection
The initial selection of finalists will be based on the following:
- The essay – “Ground Water – an Important Environmental and Economic Resource for America.”
- The description of the ground water related project and/or work experience.
- The two letters of recommendation.
The final selection for the scholarship award will be based on the above criteria, and the following:
- The strength of support provided by the applicant’s references.
- A review of examination transcripts and GPA scores.
- Written confirmation of acceptance from the college or university.