College Scholarships

2026 NVSWCD Scholarship Application Form

Applications for the 2026 VASWCD Education Foundation and NVSWCD Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship are now open! All applications are due April 1st, 2026.

The Educational Foundation of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts annually offers four scholarships to graduating high school seniors or college freshmen for college study. In 2026, four $2000 scholarships are available. The scholarships support studies related to natural resource conservation. Applications for the 2026 scholarship are now open. Applications for students who reside in Fairfax County must be submitted to the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, which will select one student for consideration by the state committee. 

Each of Virginia's 47 soil and water conservation districts in the state may nominate one applicant. Selection for consideration by the state committee does not guarantee the award of a VASWCDEF scholarship. Not a resident of Fairfax County? Virginia residents can find their local SWCD here. The VASWCD college scholarship is open to all Virginian students. If you do not have a local SWCD, you may reach out and apply through the nearest local SCWD.

NVSWCD additionally offers one $1,000 Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship to eligible applicants from Fairfax County. The guidelines, application criteria, and deadlines for the Young Conservation Leaders Scholarship are the same as those for the VASWCD Educational Foundation Scholarship.

Applications received by NVSWCD are considered for both the Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship and nomination to the state committee for the VASWCDEF scholarship as long as the applicant meets the eligibility criteria. 

Purpose

• To promote the education of Virginia citizens in technical fields associated with natural resource conservation and environmental protection.
• To give financial support to students majoring or showing a strong desire to major in a course curriculum related to natural resource conservation and/or environmental studies.

Criteria

• Individual applicants must be full-time students enrolled in or who have applied to a college freshman level curriculum.
• Applicants must be Fairfax County residents. Not a resident of Fairfax County? Virginia residents can find their local SWCD here.
• Applicants shall document a class ranking in the top 20% of his/her graduating class or a 3.0 or greater Grade Point Average, or appropriate equivalent of individual scholastic achievement. The most recent official high school or college transcript must accompany the application. (The official transcript may be sent separately but must arrive by the April 1 deadline.)
• Applicants shall demonstrate an active interest in conservation and the environment. Applications are evaluated with regard to all sections of the scholarship application, including scholastic achievement, extra-curricular and leadership activities, financial considerations, employment and volunteer work, letters of reference and the essays.
• Three letters of reference must be attached, or, if sent separately, must arrive by the April 1 deadline.
• Applications will be reviewed by local and state panels and all applications and information contained therein shall remain confidential.

Amount Awarded

• Four $2,000 scholarships will be awarded statewide this year from the VASWCD Educational Foundation, with checks to be issued to the selected school in each student's name.
• One $1,000 Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship will be awarded locally to a Fairfax County resident this year from the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, with a check to be issued to the awardee. 

Deadlines

All materials for the 2026 scholarship are due to NVSWCD no later than April 1st, 2026.

Applications must arrive at the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) office by this date. (Mailed applications should be postmarked at least three working days beforehand to ensure arrival by the deadline.) Students may also drop off their complete application by appointment.

Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 905, Fairfax, VA 22035

or

conservationdistrict@fairfaxcounty.gov

In April, each of Virginia's 47 soil and water conservation districts in the state may nominate one applicant for the VASWCDEF scholarship. At this point, an application selected by the NVSWCD evaluation committee is forwarded to the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts scholarship committee for consideration. Not a resident of Fairfax County? Virginia residents can find their local SWCD here. 

In May, the VASWCDEF scholarship winners are announced.

College Scholarship Application

The application form may be found here.

To have an application sent to you via U.S. mail or in an alternative format, email NVSWCD or call 703-324-1460, TTY 711.