Will Nutter Memorial Scholarship

The purpose of this one-year, $5,000 scholarship is to support the utility forestry and arboriculture industry by helping college students interested in those fields achieve high academic goals without accumulating burdensome debt. Up to $500 of the scholarship can be used for books and supplies.

Applications accepted January 15 to March 15, each year.

Applicants must be high school seniors entering college or community college or returning college students seeking a first bachelor’s degree or associates degree while attending an accredited US college or university. All applicants must have a genuine interest in the utility forestry or arboriculture industry, which they will express in an application letter.

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 showing a genuine interest in pursuing a career in the utility forestry/arboriculture industry and 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
• Proof of student membership in the International Society of Arboriculture
• Two letters of recommendation or contact information for people who will provide them (one must be from your academic advisor)

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

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

• Entering or returning student at an accredited undergraduate institution in the United States
• Cumulative GPA (minimum 3.0): 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.

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

Recommendations on scholarship awards will be presented to TREE Fund Board of Trustees in May 2023 and will be announced within two weeks of their decision. The award letter will include instructions on submitting acceptance information for the scholarship award.

Upon TREE Fund’s receipt of the acceptance information, the first ($2,500) scholarship payment will be made to the institution.