The Department of Environmental Conservation has a variety of scholarships in support of undergraduate and graduate students majoring in the department. You must apply through AcademicWorks to be considered. A committee of faculty from the department will review the applications and select recipients for the awards. 

How to apply: 

  1. Log into AcademicWorks at https://umass.academicworks.com using your NetID and password. 
  2. Fill out and submit the General Application and the College of Natural Sciences Application (this will apply you automatically to scholarships in your major AND other awards offered by the College of Natural Sciences) 
  3. Under “Other Recommended Opportunities” you will find applications for additional scholarships that require information, such as essays, recommendations, research plans, etc. 

Awards Open to Undergraduate Students: 

  • Ned Taft Internship Fund in Environmental Science – Provides support for internships or independent study opportunities for students to work with professionals in the field and to further critical research efforts, especially in aquatic ecology. 
  • Summer Forest Research Internship Fund – Provides support for field research experience and training associated with research projects on forest plants or forest wildlife. 
  • W. Roy Elliot Memorial FundProvides a scholarship to a Massachusetts resident registered in forestry as a full-time student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  The recipient must be in good academic standing, demonstrate financial need, and be of good character. 
  • Charles Mason Powell Restoration Fund for the Conservation of Natural Resources The Charles Mason Powell Restoration Fund awards a scholarship for the furtherance of conservation and restoration of our national agricultural resources.  
  • Marlene A. Corbut Scholarship – Awarded to a forestry major with high scholastic achievement and financial need, with financial need being the highest priority. 
  • Shepard Environmental Sciences Fund The fund provides for scholarships for students and support for student research in the Environmental Science Program. 
  • Ned Taft Scholarship Fund in Environmental Conservation – Established to provide financial support for undergraduate students who are majoring in Natural Resources Conservation or Environmental Science and studying fisheries; students should demonstrate financial need as determined by UMass Amherst; and be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0. 
  • Linda G. Lockwood Environmental Sciences Fund The Linda G. Lockwood Environmental Sciences Fund provides for a scholarship award for undergraduate students in the Environmental Science Program. 
  • Blodget Fund for Ornithological Studies – Established to support the research of students from any major interested in ornithological research, conservation, monitoring, and management. Both undergraduate and graduate students may apply to the Department of Natural Resources Conservation for the award. Student research proposals for funding may include (but are not limited to) requests to cover the costs of travel and fieldwork under faculty supervision, the purchase of specialized equipment and supplies needed for the research, and stipends, where appropriate. 
  • Frank M. West Forestry Scholarship – The Frank M. West Forestry Scholarship is for both undergraduate and graduate students in forestry. 
  • Roger J. Reed Fund – The Roger J. Reed Fund was established to provide (1) an award for the best student paper presented at the Annual Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference and (2) a scholarship for a full-time junior, senior, or a graduate student enrolled in the fisheries program at the University of Massachusetts. 
  • Donald L. Mader Natural Resources Conservation Memorial Award Provides scholarships to juniors, seniors, or graduate students in degree programs in the Department of Environmental Conservation. The award may also be made to assist ECO students in covering costs related to attending a conference or for research activities. Preference is given to students who are concentrating in forest studies, especially in forest soils. Additional consideration will be given to students who demonstrate financial need with the Financial Aid Office or show academic merit by maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0. 
  • Arnold D. Rhodes Natural Resources Conservation Memorial Award The award provides scholarships to juniors, seniors, or graduate students in degree programs in the Department of Environmental Conservation, with a preference for students concentrating in forest studies. The award may also be made to assist ECO students in covering costs related to attending a conference or for research activities. Additional consideration will be given to students who display leadership abilities, demonstrate financial need through the Financial Aid Office or show academic merit by maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0. 
  • Herschel G. Abbott Natural Resources Conservation Award – The award is given to an undergraduate or graduate students in degree programs in the Department of Environmental Conservation, with a preference for those students concentrating in forest studies.  Financial need, as demonstrated through the Financial Aid Office, and academic merit with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are additional considerations. The award may be made as a scholarship, fellowship, or outright award to assist in covering costs related to attending a conference or research activities. 
  • Margaret and Stanley Baran Scholarship – The Margaret and Stanley Baran Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in natural resources in the Department of Environmental Conservation. 

Awards Open to Graduate Students 

  • Dan Oleksak Scholarship Established to provide scholarship support for students who are pursuing graduate degrees in the Department of Environmental Conservation or its successor. Recipients must be concentrating in forest resources.  
  • Paula Milner Memorial Scholarship Fund Established to provide scholarship to a full-time graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in the environmental conservation program. 
  • Brian Moeckel Memorial Scholarship Fund – Established in memory of alumnus Brian M. Moeckel to provide a scholarship to a graduate student enrolled in the Wetland Conservation program in the Department of Natural Resources Conservation.  
  • Richard Cronin Fisheries Research Fund – Established to support fisheries research by a graduate student enrolled in the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management.  Income will be used to purchase supplies necessary to support the research being done by the graduate student selected.  The funds may not be used to support salary. 
  • Ned Taft Internship Fund in Environmental Science – Provides support for internships or independent study opportunities for students to work with professionals in the field and to further critical research efforts, especially in aquatic ecology. 
  • Blodget Fund for Ornithological Studies – Established to support the research of students from any major interested in ornithological research, conservation, monitoring, and management. Both undergraduate and graduate students may apply to the Department of Natural Resources Conservation for the award. Student research proposals for funding may include (but are not limited to) requests to cover the costs of travel and fieldwork under faculty supervision, the purchase of specialized equipment and supplies needed for the research, and stipends, where appropriate. 
  • Frank M. West Forestry Scholarship – The Frank M. West Forestry Scholarship is for both undergraduate and graduate students in forestry. 
  • Roger J. Reed Fund – The Roger J. Reed Fund was established to provide (1) an award for the best student paper presented at the Annual Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference and (2) a scholarship for a full-time junior, senior, or a graduate student enrolled in the fisheries program at the University of Massachusetts. 
  • Donald L. Mader Natural Resources Conservation Memorial Award Provides scholarships to juniors, seniors, or graduate students in degree programs in the Department of Environmental Conservation. The award may also be made to assist ECO students in covering costs related to attending a conference or for research activities. Preference is given to students who are concentrating in forest studies, especially in forest soils. Additional consideration will be given to students who demonstrate financial need with the Financial Aid Office or show academic merit by maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0. 
  • Arnold D. Rhodes Natural Resources Conservation Memorial Award The award provides scholarships to juniors, seniors, or graduate students in degree programs in the Department of Environmental Conservation, with a preference for students concentrating in forest studies. The award may also be made to assist ECO students in covering costs related to attending a conference or for research activities. Additional consideration will be given to students who display leadership abilities, demonstrate financial need through the Financial Aid Office or show academic merit by maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0. 
  • Herschel G. Abbott Natural Resources Conservation Award – The award is given to an undergraduate or graduate students in degree programs in the Department of Environmental Conservation, with a preference for those students concentrating in forest studies.  Financial need, as demonstrated through the Financial Aid Office, and academic merit with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are additional considerations. The award may be made as a scholarship, fellowship, or outright award to assist in covering costs related to attending a conference or research activities. 
  • Margaret and Stanley Baran Scholarship – The Margaret and Stanley Baran Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in natural resources in the Department of Environmental Conservation