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Scholarships are a great source for funding higher education. Students are often unaware of the wide variety of scholarships available to them. We encourage all our students to take full advantage of any opportunities they may qualify for. UW-La Crosse now offers students a searchable database of available scholarships with the ability to apply for them online. Be sure to also search for any keywords that may describe your situation, such as your specific college or year. The scholarships listed below are targeted primarily towards Geography and Earth Science students.
Recent Scholarship Recipients
Scholarship Opportunities in Geography and Earth Science
The Department of Geography and Earth Science offers over $8,500 in scholarships each year to Geography and Earth Science majors. Specific UWL Department of Geography and Earth Science scholarship awards and requirements are listed below.Apply for all but the Ryan Poehling and Prairie Springs Unpaid Internship Scholarships through UWL Foundation. Visit the College of Science and Health page for other funding opportunities and to see undergraduate research grant opportunities. Additionally, you are encouraged to look at the national geography and earth science scholarship opportunities listed below.
Ryan Poehling Memorial Scholarship ($2,000; Deadline: First Friday in November) expanding section
Ryan Poehling Scholarship
The UW-La Crosse Geography and Earth Science Department is proud to offer the Ryan Michael Poehling Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund was established by the Hank and Sandra Poehling family of La Crosse in honor of their son, Ryan, a 1995 honors graduate of UW-La Crosse who majored in Geography. Upon graduation from UW-La Crosse, Ryan continued to pursue his academic passions at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Nearing completion of his Ph.D., Ryan passed away on December 17, 2000.More on Ryan and his graduate work can be found here.
To be eligible for this award students must:
- Have at least junior standing
- Be a Geography Major
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Student applications will be evaluated based on overall GPA and in-major GPA, extracurricular involvement (geography-related or otherwise), responsibility in course work and research, potential as a future geography scholar, and student essays which are included in the application process and describe the student's future plans. Recipients of the scholarship must personify the virtues of optimism and appreciation of life which characterized Ryan Poehling. Students must have a demonstrated interest in attending graduate school in geography. Applicants must complete a UW-La Crosse Scholarship Application along with an essay describing future professional plans including plans for graduate study in geography.
The application deadline for the Poehling Scholarship is 5:00 pm on the first Friday in November. The award amount may vary from year to year but typically is $2,000
Follow this link to apply for the scholarship.
| Past Recipients | ||||
| 2021 | Emma Trettin | 2010 | Benjamin Uphoff | |
| 2020 | Rachel Engebretson | 2009 | Brett Mittelstaedt | |
| 2019 | Ethan Lucas | 2008 | Martin Elmer | |
| 2018 | Josie Talbert | 2007 | Jameson Loesch | |
| 2017 | Jackson Radenz | 2006 | John Lauermann | |
| 2016 | Sofia Kozidis | 2005 | Nathan Koster | |
| 2015 | Justine Bula | 2004 | Amber Minard | |
| 2014 | Jonas Rugtvedt | 2003 | Margaret Hollenhorst | |
| 2013 | Steve Oxley | 2002 | Jennifer Hauser | |
| 2012 | Cody Mertens | 2001 | Scott Leis | |
| 2011 | Alexander Wegner | |||
In preparation for your application for the Poehling Memorial Scholarship, listed below are the questions included in the application. Each question has a limit of 250 words, so please be thoughtful and concise.
- Describe your involvement in extracurricular or community activities since coming to UW-La Crosse. If you have no substantial involvement in extracurricular or voluntary activities, please explain why. For example, you may have only recently come or transferred to UWL, or you may have financial needs that require you to work. Geography and Earth Science faculty will consider each circumstance and evaluate the applicants objectively.
- Describe your future plans, including any plans you might have for graduate study and life as a professional in some branch of Geography and Earth Science.
Dr. Gregory and Sabrina Chu Geography Scholarship ($1,000; Deadline: Start of February) expanding section
To be eligible for this award students must:
- Be enrolled full-time at UW-La Crosse with a major in Geography
- Be enrolled as a junior or senior and have at least one semester remaining at UWL
- Have completed, in good standing, two courses in the "mapping sciences" both of which at the 200 level and above
- Examples may include but are not limited to cartography, GIS, remote sensing, web mapping, and field mapping
- Be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 3.00
- Financial need may be considered
Supplemental Question:
- Which courses in the "mapping sciences" have you taken at UWL?
The application deadline for the Dr. Gregory and Sabrina Chu Geography Scholarship is is during the first week of February, and the amount of the scholarship is $1,000.
Follow this link to view the application deadline and apply for the scholarship.
Historical Winners:
| Academic Year | Recipient |
| 2022-23 | Sophie Ulik |
| 2021-22 | Marcos Alfaro |
| 2020-21 | Ethan Fenelon |
| 2019-20 | Matthew Peck |
George N. Huppert Memorial Scholarship in Geography ($500; Deadline: Start of February) expanding section
To be eligible for this award students must:
- Be enrolled full-time at UW-La Crosse with a major in Geography
- Be in good academic standing with an above-average grade point average
- Be a sophomore, junior, or senior
- Financial need should be considered
The application deadline for the George N. Huppert Memorial Scholarship in Geography is during the first week of February, and the amount of the scholarship is $500.
Follow this link to view the application deadline and apply for the scholarship.
Historical Winners:
| Academic Year | Recipient |
| 2022-23 | Jacob Kampf |
| 2021-22 | Jacob Kampf |
| 2020-21 | Michael Boerboon |
| 2019-20 | Paul Lee |
| 2018-19 | Nancy Yang |
Harold A. Classen Scholarship in the Department of Geography ($1,350: Deadline: Start of February) expanding section
To be eligible for this award students must:
- Be a junior or senior to be enrolled full-time with a Geography major
- Have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA with at least a 3.35 GPA in Geography
Supplemental Questions:
- What is your (CSH) major?
- What is your cumulative GPA in your major?
The application deadline for the Harold A. Classen Scholarship is during the first week of February, and the amount of the scholarship varies.
Follow this link to view the application deadline and apply for the scholarship.
Historical Winners:
| Academic Year | Recipient |
| 2022-23 | Dirk Lueck |
| 2021-22 | Abigail Stank |
| 2020-21 | Mitch Mittag |
| 2019-20 | Ariel Thomas |
| 2018-19 | Kyle Zerbian |
| 2017-18 | Emily Healy |
| 2016-17 | Sofia Kozidis |
| 2015-16 | Taylor Blumenstein |
| 2014-15 | Caitlin Cullimore |
| 2013-14 | Steven Oxley |
| 2012-13 | Melissa Goldade |
| 2011-12 | Abigail Robers |
Jerry Culver Scholarship Endowment Fund in Geography ($750; Deadline: Start of February) expanding section
To be eligible for this award students must:
- Be a sophomore, junior, or senior to be enrolled full-time with a major in Geography
- Have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 3.25 GPA in Geography/Earth Science
Supplemental Questions:
- Please provide information about your Geography major as follows:
- Are you a Geography and Earth Science major?
- Do you have a GPA of 3.25 in your major?
- Have you earned at least 12 credits in Geography?
The application deadline for the Jerry Culver Scholarship Endowment Fund in Geography is during the first week of February, and the amount of the scholarship is $750.
Follow this link to view the application deadline and apply for the scholarship.
Historical Winners:
| Academic Year | Recipient |
| 2022-23 | Alyssa Laffin |
| 2021-22 | Mabel Kirst |
| 2020-21 | Jacob Kampf |
| 2019-20 | Gabrielle Geller |
| 2018-19 | Jackson Radenz |
| 2017-18 | Sofia Kozidis |
| 2016-17 | Joshua Rostek |
| 2015-16 | Sofia Kozidis |
| 2014-15 | Chase O'Brien |
| 2013-14 | Janelle Nelson |
| 2012-13 | Sara Erickson |
Kirk Louis McIlraith Scholarship in Geography ($325; Deadline: Start of February) expanding section
To be eligible for this award students must:
- Be a sophomore, junior, or senior to be enrolled full-time with a major in Geography
- Have at least a 3.0 GPA
Supplemental Questions:
- What is your major?
The application deadline for the Kirk Louis McIlraith Scholarship in Geography is during the first week of February, and the amount of the scholarship is $325.
Follow this link to view the application deadline and apply for the scholarship.
Historical Winners:
| Academic Year | Recipient(s) |
| 2022-23 | Genessa Carney |
| 2021-22 | Mabel Kirst |
| 2020-21 | Braden Sanders |
| 2019-20 | Sydney Graff |
| 2018-19 | Chelsey Sloan |
| 2017-18 | Annie McIntyre |
| 2016-17 | Charlotte Peters |
| 2015-16 | Samantha Haugen |
| 2014-15 | Margaret Obear and Tim Wilda |
| 2013-14 | James Marker and Anders Gehrt |
| 2012-13 | Matthew Ernst |
Margaret Chew Scholarships for Geography Majors ($500; Deadline: Start of February) expanding section
To be eligible for this award students must:
- Declare Geography as a major at the time of admission
- Have a minimum ACT score of 25 out of 36 (or its SAT equivalent)
- Be a sophomore to be enrolled full-time with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 3.5 GPA in Geography and Earth Science
- Submit a 200-250 word typed statement explaining why the applicant has chosen Geography as a major
- Show service work and involvement in organization
Supplemental Questions:
- What is your (CSH) major?
- Submit a 200-250 word typed statement explaining why you have chosen Geography as a major.
The application deadline for the Margaret Chew Scholarships for Geography Majors is during the first week of February, and the amount of the scholarship is $500.
Follow this link to view the application deadline and apply for the scholarship.
Historical Winners:
| Academic Year | Recipient(s) |
| 2022-23 | Genessa Carney, Rachel Klingberg, Jacquelyn Oetterer, Jaydin Romalia, Trenton Ruffalo, Jamie Schoen, Dylan Stukins and Ty Tretter |
| 2021-22 | Marcos Alfaro |
| 2020-21 | Braden Sanders and Mabel Kirst |
| 2019-20 | Josephine Talbert, Ethan Lucas, Austin Halley, and Megan Hickinbotham |
| 2018-19 | Matthew Peck, Paul Lee, Megan Hickinbotham, Gabrielle Geller, Benjamin Finley, and Jackson Bryant |
Prairie Springs Unpaid Internship Grant ($1,500; Deadline: Spring and Fall) expanding section
The Prairie Springs Fund will provide grants for unpaid internships. To be eligible for this grant, the unpaid internship must be related to environmental studies or wildlife habitat protection and conservation. In addition to the general scholarship application, there are supplemental questions.
Supplemental Questions:
- Are you registered for academic credit for an unpaid internship?
- Through what course number are you registered to get credit for this internship?
- Is your internship unpaid?
- Internship title
- Employer name and location (city, state)
- UWL faculty intern advisor name
- Beginning and end date of your internship (ex. Oct. 1, 2020 to Dec. 23, 2020)
- How many hours per week will you work at your internship? (average per week)
- Did you transfer to UWL from another college or university?
- Describe your duties/responsibilities/projects in the internship and the skills and knowledge that you will gain.
- Describe how this internship will contribute to your career goals?
- Describe your financial need and the impact this grant could have.
- Describe how this internship is relevant to environmental studies or wildlife habitat protection and conservation.
The application deadline for the Prairie Springs Unpaid Internship Grant is during during the Fall and Spring semesters,and the amount of the grant is $1,500.
Follow this link to view the application deadline and apply for the grant.
Wayne Jacobson Scholarship Fund in Geography ($500; Deadline: Start of February) expanding section
To be eligible for this award students must:
- Be a full-time student with a major in Geography
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 with a 3.5 GPA in Geography
- Have earned at least 12 credits in Geography with a total number of credits between 45 and 90
- Financial need may be considered
Supplemental Questions:
- Please provide information about your Geography major as follows:
- Are you a Geography/Earth Science major?
- Do you have a GPA of 3.25 in your major?
- Have you earned at least 12 credits in Geography?
The application deadline for the Wayne Jacobson Scholarship Fund in Geography is during the first week of February,and the amount of the scholarship is $500.
Follow this link to view the application deadline and apply for the scholarship.
Historical Winners:
| Academic Year | Recipient |
| 2022-23 | Emma Trettin |
| 2021-22 | Jacob Kampf |
| 2020-21 | Ethan Fenelon |
| 2019-20 | Chelsey Sloan |
| 2018-19 | Jackson Bryant |
| 2017-18 | Annie McIntyre, Joshua Rostek, and Ava Lombardino |
| 2016-17 | Emily Healy and Jenna DeShaney |
| 2015-16 | Augustus Johnson and Shelby Jacobson |
| 2014-15 | Augustus Johnson |
| 2013-14 | Chase O'Brien |
Additional Scholarship Opportunities through UWL Foundation
Additional UWL and non-UWL scholarship opportunities can be found through the UWL Scholarship Resource Center. Visitthis linkfor information on scholarship sources, application deadlines, and eligibility.
National Geography and Earth Science Scholarship Opportunities
Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholarship for Female Graduate Geoscience Students expanding section
This scholarship is offered through the American Geosciences Institute.
The Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholarship is available for female students pursuing a Master's or Doctoral degree at an accredited institution of higher education in a recognized geoscience program. The scholarship is a merit-based award, which is $5,000 per year. Successful applicants who become Wallace Scholars are eligible to apply a second time for an additional $5,000 as long as they continue to be full-time graduate students in their geoscience degree programs. The second application will be considered competitively among all applicants for that year.
Current Status:The application processfor the 2022-2023 closes on February 6th, 2022.To read about applying for the Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholarship, please visit ourapplications page.
David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship expanding section
The David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship is funded by the American Geophysical Union. The goal is to motivate students to make the world a better place. Therefore, the AGU awards $1,500 to students in an environmental studies-related program.
To apply for this scholarship, students must:
- Be an undergrad or grad student.
- Undergrads must have completed at least four full semesters of study.
- Have at least a 3.4 GPA and show financial need.
- Show a recorded interest in a geo-environmental engineering or the geo-environmental sciences career.
For more information on the David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship, please visit their website.
The Father James. B. Macelwane Annual Award in Meteorology expanding section
The Father James B. Macelwane Annual Awardwas established by the American Meteorological Society to honor the late Rev. James B. Macelwane, S.J., a world-renowned authority of seismology, who was a geophysicist and Dean of the Institute of Technology, Saint Louis University, until his death in 1956. The recipient of the Father James B. Macelwane award will receive a stipend of $1000 supported by member donations to the AMS Giving Program.
The purpose of this award is to stimulate interest in meteorology among college students through the submission of original student papers concerned with some phase of the atmospheric sciences. The student must be enrolled as an undergraduate at the time the paper is written, and no more than two students from any one institution may enter papers in any one contest.
The Society encourages applications from women, minorities, and students with disabilities, traditionally underrepresented in the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences.
For more information on this scholarship opportunity, please visit their website.
AAGS Joseph F. Dracup Scholarship Award expanding section
This prestigious award is given out by theAmerican Association for Geodetic Surveying(AAGS). If you are interested in geomatics, surveying engineering or geodetic surveying as a future career, then the Joseph F. Dracup Scholarship Award is a great way to help fund your education. In addition to a letter of recommendation and transcripts, students must also submit an essay about why they deserve this $2,000 scholarship in order to apply.
CaGIS Masters Scholarship Award expanding section
TheCartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS)honors graduate students pursuing their master’s degree in cartography or geographic information science by giving out two $750 CaGIS Masters Scholarship Awards each year. Undergraduates can also apply if they intend to complete master’s level research in geographic information sciences. The criteria for judging applications include academic records, the applicant’s statement, and letters of recommendation and professional activities.
Application deadline:February 15
NSPS Fellows Scholarship expanding section
Geography can lead to exciting career options like surveying and mapping, geodesy or geographic information sciences. Students who are interested in one of these fields should apply for theNational Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Fellows Scholarship. This $2,000 award is available to undergraduate students in their junior or senior year of school. Students must be a member of NSPS to apply.
Application deadline:March 15
Weigel, Frank Memorial Academic Scholarship expanding section
This scholarship is offered through the Wisconsin Dells Educational Foundation.
Established in memory of Frank Weigel, a former Wisconsin Dells teacher who taught agriculture and physics for the Wisconsin Dells School District 41 years of his 45-year teaching career, the scholarship is given to students who intend to pursue their college education in either vocational agriculture, agri-business, teaching vocational agriculture, or in other related areas such as earth science, forestry, veterinary medicine, physics, chemistry, biology, or botany.
To apply for this scholarship, students must:
- Financial need is required
- Must be pursuing a degree from a 2-year or 4-year accredited college
- Provide a transcript
- Provide a resume/activity list
- Write a Financial Need Statement (no more than 500 words); Write your Career Plan (no more than 500 words)
- Two Letters of Recommendation, one from school (i.e., teacher, coach, club advisor), and one from the community (i.e, employer, pastor, youth leader, neighbor, etc).
The amount of the award is $1,200 and the deadline for applications is March 2021. For more information, please visit their website.
Darrel Hess Community College Geography Scholarship expanding section
Margaret Chew Travel Fund Request
The Department of Geography and Earth Science has a limited amount of funding available from the Margaret Chew Fund to support Geography and Earth Science students presenting at a conference, traveling for research with a faculty member from the UWL Geography Department, or traveling as part of a UWL-sanctioned learning experience (e.g. study aboard). Funds will be prioritized for Geography majors. Recipients receiving funding in support of research-related travel will be required to present their findings at either the fall (Viterbo) or spring (UWL) research symposium held in La Crosse. Complete this application to request financial support.
FAQs
Which country is easy to get fully funded scholarship? ›
China. The most famous grant of China is provided by the government of China and fully covers not only study, but also accommodation. It's called The Grant of the PRC and includes a monthly scholarship of $500-600 is paid to the student.
How can I get free scholarships? ›- Consider your chances. ...
- Check if you need to apply and what the deadline is. ...
- Find out when you'll know if you're successful for an award. ...
- Share your information with Student Finance. ...
- Keep your eyes open for opportunities. ...
- Take care with your application. ...
- Be realistic.
You can visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website to find out more about the funding available if you are studying in the UK as an undergraduate student, including whether or not you are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Just scroll down to the relevant section of the webpage.
What is the easiest scholarship to get for international students? ›- Fullbright Scholarships. ...
- The American Association of University Women International Fellowship. ...
- Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship | Scholarships For International Students. ...
- Chevening Scholarships | Scholarships For International Students.
- $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship.
- $2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay.
- $40,000 BigFuture Scholarships.
- $2,500 Christian Connector Scholarship.
- $2,000 College Repayment Grant.
- Annual Protestant Faith Based College Scholarship.
- Annual Catholic College Scholarship.
United States: The most popular country for scholarship awards, the United States boasts over 1,500 scholarships and awards available. Scholarships in the United States are typically offered by colleges and universities, but there are also a number of private scholarships available.