The Illinois Conservation Foundation offers the Conservation Achievement Scholarship to promote the value
of our natural world and encourage the next generation of leaders to engage in personal efforts to preserve
and enhance a sustainable outdoor environment.

ELIGIBILITY
This opportunity is available to outstanding high school seniors in Illinois who have demonstrated effective,
voluntary, long-term dedication to the preservation, protection, enhancement and/or promotion of Illinois’
natural resources. One of the four scholarships will be given to a qualified applicant who is also a legal
dependent of a current Illinois Department of Natural Resources employee (at the time the ICF receives the
application).

AWARDS
• Up to four scholarships of $2,000.00 each will be awarded for the 2022-2023 school year.
• These scholarships are one-time awards that are not renewable.
• Scholarship funds may be used for the following expenses related to the two- or four-year college or
university degree that the schorlarship recipient is pursuing: tuition; college/university fees;
textbooks; room and board at the college/university. Funds are mailed directly to the
college/university of the successful applicants.

QUALIFICATIONS
Applicant must be:
• a senior in an Illinois high school during the year of the scholarship award
• an Illinois resident
• able to provide specific examples of voluntary, effective contributions to Illinois’ natural resources
throughout his/her high school enrollment
• enrolling in a two- or four-year college or university program of study in the calendar year of his/her
high school graduation
• a student in good standing at his/her high school and possess a 2.5 grade point average or better on
a 4.0 scale (3.1 grade point average or better on a 5.0 scale).

DEADLINE
Applications must be received by the Illinois Conservation Foundation by March 1, 2022.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Questions should be addressed to the Illinois Conservation Foundation at 217-785-2003 or
info@ilconservation.org. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER MARCH 1, 2022 WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.

 

2022 APPLICATION CONSERVATION ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP
2022 Application Form
Please follow these instructions

1. Your application must be submitted electronically by email. Send the file to info@ilconservation.org.
Place all information in a single file. Title the file using the format shown below. Please submit
information as a Microsoft Word document or PDF file. Please number the pages in your file and
include your name at the top of each page. The application file must be received by the Illinois
Conservation Foundation by March 1, 2022. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications received after March 1, 2022 will not be considered.

File Title Format: last name first name ScholarshipApp2022
Example: For applicant “John Doe” use DoeJohnScholarshipApp2022.

 

2. The following criteria are used to judge applications. Please include the item number/letter and the
question in your response. Applicants are evaluated in regard to their natural resources conservation
activities: initiative; leadership; long-term participation; positive impact on Illinois; and a variety of
actions.

2a. Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Phone (including area code), Cell Phone (including area code),
Email, County

2b. How did you learn about this scholarship opportunity? Web, email, school counselor, teacher,
newspaper, friend, other (Please specify.)

2c. Please provide the name, mailing address and email address of no more than two local newspapers
that we could contact for publicity purposes should you be awarded a scholarship.

2d. Attach a current high school transcript.

2e. Write and attach a 500-word essay explaining why you are qualified to receive this scholarship award.
The essay should provide specific examples of how your voluntary efforts in Illinois throughout your
high school years have resulted in preservation, protection, enhancement and/or promotion of
Illinois’ natural resources as well as how these efforts influenced people. Judges will be evaluating
initiative, leadership, long-term dedication, benefit to Illinois’ natural resources and variety of
activities performed.

2f. Attach one letter of support from one of the following people: your principal; assistant principal; or
guidance counselor.

2g. Attach three letters of support from people familiar with your voluntary conservation efforts in
Illinois.

2h. Attach no more than two digital photographs that represent your voluntary conservation efforts.
Please do not include other people in the photographs. These photographs may be used for
promotional purposes by the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

2i. Attach a copy of an acceptance letter from a two- or four-year college or university and your student
identification number at that college or university. If you are not yet accepted at a college or
university, provide the name and address of colleges/universities that have been or will be applied
to for enrollment. Should you win the award, receipt of funding will be pending until this information
has been submitted.