Plein Environmental Scholarship

The Plein Environmental Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to benefit students in need of financial assistance who are pursuing an undergraduate degree at a community college or public university in Virginia.

To see the list of eligible public universities, visit https://www.schev.edu/students/applying-forcollege/colleges-universities and click “Virginia Public Colleges and Universities”.

Each awardee will receive $5,000 for their studies, given in the Fall semester. Three scholarships will be awarded per academic year.

Eligibility for 2026-2027 Scholarship:

• Student must be either:
  • a high school senior (graduating no later than June 2026) set to attend a community college or public university in Virginia, or
  • a current undergraduate student at a community college or public university in Virginia.
• Student must be pursuing a degree in an environmental field of study. Possible degrees include: Environmental Science, Conservation, Forestry, Biology, Urban Planning, Economics, Public Policy, or otherwise related. Student should be prepared to explain how they plan to use their major in service of the environment.
• Student must demonstrate financial need through the submission of a short written statement.
• Student must clearly and compellingly demonstrate why they wish to pursue an environmental field of study, and how they hope to utilize their degree, through the submission of two short essays.

Completed applications must be received by April 24th, 2026. Applications must be emailed to scholarship@whfarmfoundation.org. Applications must include:

1. Completed Application Form

2. Environmental Service Resume

3. Essay Responses

4. Copy of your high school and/or college transcript

Scholarship Awards:

The selection committee will evaluate applications based on the applicant’s GPA, essay responses, and financial need. Awardees will be notified by May 31st, 2026. Scholarship awards will be paid directly to the student’s academic institution in August 2026.

Academic Record:

Please provide a PDF copy of your current high school transcript. College students, please also provide your current college transcript. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Resume:

Please attach an Environmental Service resume which lists activities you have participated in to learn more about the environment. This is not a formal resume, rather a chance to show your previous commitment to the environment. Examples of activities can include classes on climate change or the environment, volunteer work, extracurriculars, or personal side projects.

Essay Questions:

1. Tell the story of when you first learned about a particular environmental issue. Then, explain how this experience influenced your decision to work in your chosen environmental field. (300 words maximum)

2. Write about a time when you respectfully discussed an environmental issue with someone else. Did they agree with your opinion on the issue? Did your viewpoint change after speaking to them? (250 words maximum)

OPTIONAL: What is one topic related to the environment that you think is too often ignored? Why do you think it is overlooked? Why is it important to consider? (500 words maximum)