Scholarships

The Berks County Conservation District (BCCD) is accepting scholarship applications from High School seniors within Berks County or College/University students whose permanent residency is within Berks County.

Qualifications

• Applicant must be a Berks County High School senior or College student that will enter or is currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in 2025, who will be continuing their education with the intent of majoring in conservation, environmental science, forestry, agriculture, engineering, or related studies
• High School seniors or current College and University students must be accepted by or enrolled in an accredited institution of higher learning. Failure to be enrolled in the stated major will cause for the scholarship to be forfeited
• The determination of whether the major course of study qualifies will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Berks County Conservation District
• College students already enrolled in an undergraduate program related to conservation, engineering or another environmental major course of study must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.85 or higher.

Submission Requirements 

• Review the information below and submit your completed application on or before March 31, 2025. All completed application packages need to be emailed to Jennifer Brooks at jennifer.brooks@berkscd.com.
• Each submission must have all documents scanned into one attachment. Please submit the document in PDF format only. If the application package is not complete, a phone call will be made and an email will be sent to the student requesting the missing information. At that time, the student will be informed that they have 24 hours to submit the missing information or the application will be marked as incomplete. An incomplete application is not eligible to participate in the scholarship program this year. If an applicant does not have access to email, hard copies of the application will be accepted and can be delivered or sent to the Berks County Conservation District at 1238 County Welfare Road, Suite 200, Leesport, PA 19533.
• The following will need to be submitted as part of the scholarship application package:
  1. Application
     • Fill out the application which can be downloaded by clicking the button at the top of this page.
  2. Academic Record/Transcript
     • High School, College, or University name and address.
     • List conservation/environmental courses
  3. Acceptance Letter
     • Letter from the institution where education will be continued with an acceptable
       field of study.
  4. Career Plans
     • Career plans must be written in a clear and concise manner.
  5. Personal Record
     • Organizations: List school and community organizations in which you were or are currently involved. Include activities and dates of involvement.
     • Awards: List any important awards and recognition you have received.
     • Outstanding Accomplishments: List any outstanding accomplishments and how they relate to personal goals and aspirations.
  6. Letter(s) of Recommendation
     • Submit at least one, but no more than three letters of recommendation.
  7. Essay- Topic: "Home is where the Habitat is"
     • In honor of Conservation District Stewardship Week, the Berks County Conservation District celebrates the theme, “Home is Where the Habitat is.” This theme highlights the vital role native habitats play in sustaining biodiversity, storing carbon, and protecting soil and water resources. When animals, plants, and aquatic life have healthy habitats, it benefits us all by ensuring ecosystem stability, enhancing natural beauty, and supporting clean air and water, creating a resilient and sustainable environment.
     • Explain and discuss some of the current threats Pennsylvania's native habitats are facing and what conservation methods are currently being utilized in an effort to protect valuable natural resources that ensure these habitats sustain biodiversity.
     • Essay must be between 500 and 1,000 words
     • Five in-text citations are required
     • Three credible sources are required; Wikipedia or “Wikipedia Like” citations will not be considered credible sources
     • Pictures, drawings or illustrations to support the essay are encouraged but need to be limited to two additional pages
     • Essay must be clear and concise with correct punctuation and grammar.

Scholarship winners will be notified by phone by the end of May and encouraged to attend the BCCD Annual Banquet on July 28, 2025, where they will be recognized. Either a student or someone on their behalf must be present during awards.

The BCCD continues to sponsor these scholarships in an effort to encourage students to continue their education in a conservation-related field. We appreciate your assistance in distributing the application to the appropriate students and thank you in advance for your cooperation