Fran Ward Women in Arboriculture Scholarship

The Fran Ward Women in Arboriculture Scholarship, established by the Penn-Del Chapter of ISA, provides financial support for university and college students through scholarships to foster a greater appreciation of shade trees and promote the science and practice of professional arboriculture by women. Applicants must be enrolled in a major, minor, option, or program related to the practice of arboriculture and urban forestry at an accredited college or university.

Scholarship award amounts are $5,000 each. The award is non-renewable but can be applied for annually. All awards will be paid directly to the educational institution attended by the recipient, to be paid in two increments, one in the fall semester, one in the spring. (Second payment is contingent upon re-enrollment and GPA standards being met). Awards may only be applied to tuition expense, and applicants may not request scholarships greater than the anticipated amount of their tuition expense for the academic year in which the grants will be paid.

All of the following criteria must be met to qualify:

• Female
• Returning to the second year of a two-year program or at least the second year of a four-year program at an accredited college or university and be currently enrolled in a major, minor, option, or program of arboriculture, horticulture, forestry, urban forestry, or related field.
• 2.5 GPA minimum
• Preference will be given to students from, living or studying in Pennsylvania or Delaware

APPLICATION PROCESS

TREE Fund will accept applications only between January 15 and March 15, 2026.

To apply, go to TREE Fund’s online portal here. You will be asked to create, or login, to the online application portal.

Applicants will need the following information to complete the application. Application progress can be saved as information is gathered.

• Educational standing and enrollment status
• History of scholarships and extracurricular activities
• Essay describing your reasons for pursuing your chosen career, your goals and objectives, and why you should be chosen for this scholarship (maximum 1000 words)
• Current transcript
• Two letters of recommendation or contact information for people who will provide them (one must be from your academic advisor)

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

TREE Fund and the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture are particularly interested in having its scholarship recipients begin and remain in careers in arboriculture, urban forestry, or related green industries. Applicant essays should provide TREE Fund with a sense of the student’s career aspirations and plans within these industries, and academic, work and extracurricular activities should reflect commitment toward this goal.

Applications will be evaluated by TREE Fund’s Education Committee. Members of this committee will rate applications using the following rubric:

• Cumulative GPA: 20 points
• Essay: 30 points
• Advisor letter of recommendation: 20 points
• Second letter of recommendation: 15 points
• Potential for continuing career in arboriculture, urban forestry, or related fields: 15 points
• Total Maximum Possible Score: 100 points.

Recommendations on scholarship awards will be presented to TREE Fund Board of Trustees in May, each year, and will be announced within two weeks of their decision.

TREE Fund does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability or national or ethnic origin. Current trustees of TREE Fund or any member of the family of any such trustee are ineligible to receive scholarships from TREE Fund.

AWARD NOTIFICATION AND FUND DISTRIBUTION

Recipients will be notified within two weeks of TREE Fund Board of Trustees’ award decision. The award letter will include instructions on submitting acceptance information for the scholarship award.

Upon TREE Fund’s receipt of the acceptance information, 50% of scholarship payment will be made to the institution. The balance of the award will be made after fall semester grades and re-enrollment are confirmed with TREE Fund.