≡NJACD
The purpose of the NJ Association of Conservation Districts is to conduct educational, scientific and charitable work concerning the conservation, maintenance, improvement, development and use of land, soil, water, trees, vegetation, fish and wildlife, open space and other renewable natural resources.​

Scholarships

​The NJACD Memorial Conservation Scholarship Fund establishes a continuing memorial to those recognized and honored through monetary contribution for their dedicated service to the conservation of our natural resources. This scholarship is granted to encourage and support qualified students to pursue a career in a field related to the conservation and management of natural resources.

Contributions to the Scholarship Fund have been invested to produce a continuing source of income to support scholarships to qualifying students in the field of conservation. Scholarships are funded from the interest earned on the New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts Memorial Conservation Scholarship Fund.

Eligibility

  • Must be a New Jersey resident.
  • Must be a full time student in good standing at an accredited college (not necessarily in NJ).
  • Must have successfully completed, or will complete by the scholarship award date, at least four full semesters of study.
  • Must be an undergraduate enrolled in a major curriculum of agriculture or natural resource conservation, including agronomy, soil science, plant science, forestry, geography, journalism, agricultural education, environmental science, wildlife or fisheries management, environmental engineering, and other areas related to conservation.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Academic commitment to a field of conservation
  • Demonstrated scholastic ability
  • Involvement in extra curricular activities or volunteer projects related to conservation
  • Financial need

​​2023 Scholarship Recipient

KariAnne Leck
​My Name is KariAnne Leck and I am honored to be receiving the 2023 NJACD Memorial Conservation Scholarship. I want to thank NJACD and the Scholarship Review Committee for aiding my future and education in forest and environmental conservation. Like all of us, I am working towards making this world a better place, one step at a time. I devote my efforts to conserving our forests, soil ecology, and natural resources for our current and future generations.
KariAnne Leck, 2023 Memorial Conservation Scholarship recipient
KariAnne Leck
2023 Memorial Conservation Scholarship recipient
​While attending Rutgers University, I am studying Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources with a focus on Forest Ecology. With roots planted in Jersey, I have seen with so much gentrification comes the sacrifice of our forests and I have always had a dream of being the one who changes this process for the better. To achieve this, I have been studying multiple layers of our environment and ecology of the region to better understand the underlying ecosystems. I have worked this previous summer as a Watershed Steward for the New Jersey Water Authority and focused on invasive species in the waterway and their influence on the surrounding ecology of forest structure from these invasive species. While also a part of Rutgers forestry club, I was able to attend the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) seminar this year and discuss possible projects and thesis opportunities with local arborists in how aquatic invasive species can alter the water quality along river systems affecting soil topology for forest systems.

This summer, I plan to assist the landscape and design team of the Monmouth County Park Systems in plot studies and tree inventorying. This program is important in mapping land development within the parks and instructs which plots of land can be planted with new foliage species or invasive trees may need reducing to limit insect abundance. I am extremely thankful for this scholarship as it will help further my education in part from my financial situation. I am sincerely thankful to NJACD for all of their work, and their important contributions to conserving our natural resources and bettering our future world for generations to come!
Click here to view past NJ Conservation Scholarship recipients...

How To Apply

The deadline for applications is May 1, 2024.
Click here to apply online for the NJACD Memorial Conservation Scholarship...
Or, mail your application by May 1, 2024 to:
​MORRIS COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT
ATTENTION: LILY MEHL
30 SCHUYLER PL 4TH FLOOR
MORRISTOWN, NJ 07960
Click here to download the NJACD Memorial Conservation Scholarship Application...