As of today, more than 41,000 species have been assessed to be under threat of extinction according to the IUCN. WWF made another shocking discovery in their 2022 Living Planet Report, that global wildlife populations have plummeted by 69% on average since 1970.
Furthermore, animals like Javan Rhinos are just remaining about 75 individuals. You might not be a fan of Rhinos, but what of Amur Leopard that is just remaining 100 individuals in the wild. What if I tell you that around 55 of our favourite African Elephants are killed each day for their tusks?
So you see that there is serious trouble in the wild, and we need to start acting ASAP. Seeing all these numbers might make you assume that every profound university in the United States has Conservation Wildlife Departments, but the reverse is the case here. According to the University of Minnesota, there are only 11 universities in the U.S. dedicated to fisheries and wildlife.
Needless to say, some of these Universities provide wildlife conservation scholarships that can help you ease your financial burden when you pursue your career. There are also other related scholarships that might be of interest to you.
We tried our best to list as many scholarships as we can find, but first, let’s learn what wildlife conservation is all about, then we learn some of its scholarship benefits, and finally, we list the scholarships.
Table of Contents
What is Wildlife Conservation?
Wildlife Conservation is the study of the protection and preservation of animal species, plants, and their habitats.
Benefits of a Wildlife Conservation Scholarship
- One of the biggest benefits of conservation scholarships is that it reduces or eliminates your financial burden, depending on the one you won.
- Secondly, you don’t have to accumulate loans after graduation.
- Also, you have the chance to study abroad, which opens the door to a more developed education
- You will have access to some other privileges like free conferences, free trips, etc.
- It increases the chances of getting employed immediately after graduation.
Now we’ve discussed these benefits, let’s list their requirements.
Wildlife Conservation Scholarships
Because we said these Scholarships are 11 doesn’t mean they are just 11, most of them have several scholarships provided by the school. See each of the numbers as a door to a category of scholarships.
1. The University of Maine – Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology Scholarships
The University of Maine was established as the Maine College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. For the record, besides providing several scholarships, they also featured in multiple 2022 national guides to best colleges, including The Princeton Review and Fiske Guide to Colleges.
One of their scholarships is the General Academic Scholarship which awards approximately $48,000 in scholarship support to approximately 35 undergraduate students each year based on academic achievement and/or financial need. Some other scholarships include;
- The Arthur S. Allen, Ph.D. and David J. Allen, Brig. General (Ret.) Wildlife Conservation Scholarship
- The Malcolm W. Coulter Wildlife Alumni Scholarship
- The Penobscot County Conservation Association Annual Scholarships
2. Virginia Tech – Fish and Wildlife Conservation Scholarships
Just like the University of Maine, Virginia Tech provides various wildlife conservation scholarships such as;
- Dwight Chamberlain Wildlife Fellowship
- Richard H. Cross Jr. Scholarship
- Robert H. Giles, Jr., Scholarship
- Michael B. Wagner Memorial Scholarship
- Kathryn M. Fabrycky Memorial Scholarship
3. Fordham University – Wildlife Conservation Society Scholarship
The Wildlife Conservation Society Scholarship is for students majoring, or with a degree, in science who are committed to teaching science in high school districts upon the completion of a teacher credential program.
4. University of Florida – Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department Scholarships
The Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida provides 52% research, 34% teaching, and 14% extension to their students. Also, they provide $3 million in grants or scholarships some of which are;
- CALS Graduate Awards and Scholarships
- McKnight Doctoral Fellowships
- National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships
5. Nebraska Wildwood Trust Scholarship
This is one of the wildlife conservation scholarships provided to 4 undergraduates annually, and graduates travel grants, also annually. The scholarships were established to support undergraduate scholarships for students in the Fisheries and Wildlife major.
6. Michigan State University – College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Scholarships
Michigan State University a.k.a Spartans provides quality education alongside its generous scholarships. some of their profound accomplishments include being named among the top 40 public Universities in the United States.
Their wildlife conservation undergraduate and graduate scholarships include;
- Andy Ammann Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society Scholarship
- International Wildlife Undergraduate Scholarship
- Jeffery D. Rupert Leadership Excellence Award
7. UConn – Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
UConn also provides various wildlife conservation undergraduate and graduate scholarships which include;
- George F. Cloutier Scholarship
- Robert S. Malloy Scholarship
- Horace C. Eriksson Forestry Scholarship
- Bishop-Carder Scholarship
- Predoctoral Fellowships
- Harry Farnham Memorial Award
- New Haven County Agricultural Center Conservation Internship
- McDowell Wildlife Award
8. A.E. Leonard Endowed Scholarship in Range and Wildlife Conservation
Among so many other scholarships provided by Texas Tech University’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, was established by Ken Leonard Family in memory of A. E. Leonard in 1993. The scholarship is awarded to Texas resident undergraduate students who are majoring in the Department of Range and Wildlife Management.
9. Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program
The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP) serves to strengthen the conservation profession by inspiring and educating undergraduate students from across the country who can make significant contributions to broadening the field of conservation.
Awardees will be able to study conservation issues, participate in land, water, and wildlife conservation research, and intern with conservation projects at environmental non-profits, research universities, and government agencies nationwide.
10. University of Minnesota – Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Scholarships
The University of Minnesota was founded in 1851 near Saint Anthony Falls and they provide several scholarships as well to enable their students to pay their fees without so much burden or pile of loans after graduation.
Some of their financial aid for Wildlife Conservation include;
- Grady Mann Scholarship
- Janet S. Boe Leopold Land Ethic Workshop Award
- Conservation Sciences Graduate Student Fund
- Wally Dayton Fellowship in Wildlife Research
- Leigh H. Perkins Fellowship in Wildlife Management
- Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Fund
11. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Wildlife Leadership Awards
Each year, the RMEF recognizes outstanding wildlife science college students through our scholarship program, the Wildlife Leadership Awards (WLA). The scholarship is awarded to college juniors and seniors chosen for their leadership ability, dedication to wildlife conservation and scholastic achievements.
Awards include a $5,000 scholarship and one-year RMEF membership.
Conclusion
There are lots of threats to wildlife, like I said earlier, some species of animal are quickly on extinction, and it calls for serious humanitarian aid.
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