MORRIS COUNTY — The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is now accepting applications for its 2018 Scholarship Program. Two scholarships are available to college students who reside in New Jersey and are pursuing a degree in environmental science, natural resource management, conservation, horticulture, park administration, or a related field. The application deadline is April 1, 2018.
Applications can be downloaded from The Land Conservancy of New Jersey website, www.tlc-nj.org or can be obtained by calling (973) 541-1010 x14. Potential candidates must be New Jersey residents enrolled in a college or university, be in good standing, have at least 15 credits completed, and have an academic average equivalent to a 3.0 or higher.
“This year, we are pleased to be able to provide $7,500 to each of our two scholarship recipients, announced Rick Simon, Trustee and Member of the Scholarship Committee for The Land Conservancy of New Jersey.
“The Land Conservancy has made a long-term commitment to help build future environmental leaders in New Jersey,” said The Land Conservancy President, David Epstein. “We are excited to meet a new group of passionate students and hope that our scholarships can assist with developing their skills so that they can help New Jersey meet its future environmental challenges.”
The Russell W. Myers Scholarship was established in 1983 to honor Mr. Myers, founder of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey. An outstanding leader in the field of conservation, Mr. Myers was the first Director of the Morris County Park Commission and served for more than a quarter century. His dynamic leadership established the Morris County Park System, which remains the largest county park system in the State of New Jersey and one of the finest in the nation.
The Rogers Family Scholarship was established in 2005 by Gray and Mollie Rogers, dedicated conservationists who wanted to expand The Land Conservancy’s educational support for outstanding students passionate about protecting our natural environment. Gray Rogers is a former Chairman of The Land Conservancy’s Board and is currently Trustee Emeritus of the non-profit land trust.
The Scholarship Program has awarded $255,000 in grants to 54 outstanding college students since its inception. Past recipients have hailed from nearly 40 different New Jersey towns and have used their scholarships to obtain bachelor, master’s, and doctorate degrees at an array of institutions including New Jersey’s own Rutgers University and Richard Stockton College. Their fields of study have included environmental law, policy, chemistry, and planning, as well as wildlife ecology, geography, landscape architecture, and forestry management.
Founded in 1981, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a member supported, non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting vital natural lands and water resources throughout the State. The Land Conservancy has preserved over 24,000 acres of land and helped towns secure $239 million in county, state, and federal grants for their land conservation projects.
Accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2009, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has worked with 100 municipalities in 13 counties and is recognized for meeting the highest quality standards for protecting open space, upholding the public trust, and ensuring that their conservation efforts are permanent.
For more information about the work of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, click here or call (973) 541-1010.