WALPA Lake Scholarship

for work on Lakes and Watersheds

The Washington State Lake Protection Association (WALPA) awards scholarships to support undergraduate and graduate students in their pursuit of degrees specializing in the fields of Environmental Science.

WALPA is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 by a group of volunteers concerned for the future of Washington lakes. WALPA has grown to over 200 members, including lakeside residents, lake associations, recreationists, scientists, educators, legislators, and local and state agencies. Through WALPA, separate entities with diverse interests speak with a united voice. WALPA members financially support the WALPA Scholarship.

WALPA presents one $1000 scholarship and one $750 scholarship at the annual conference. The $1000 scholarship is an honorary scholarship dedicated to the remembrance of Nancy Weller. Nancy Weller worked for Washington State Department of Ecology for 13 years, eight of which were in the Eastern Regional Office. Nancy was very dedicated and interested in working with people on lakes, aquatic plants and improving the environment.

Scholarship funds may be used by recipients to cover the costs associated with education and/or research expenses. Eligible applicants must be enrolled as a part or full-time undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited college or university in Washington or Idaho and be completing course work or research related to biology, hydrology, ecology and management or restoration of lakes and watersheds in Washington and Idaho.

Both scholarship recipients will additionally receive a one-year membership in WALPA and a waiver of registration fees for the upcoming annual conference. Scholarship recipients will also be invited to give a presentation on their research at the next annual conference.

A committee consisting of academic, industry, and agency representatives will judge applications. Judging will not be done by individuals with a personal or institutional affiliation with the applicant. Winning applications will be chosen based on the quality of research topic, its significance to the fields of Environmental Science, particularly limnology and hydrology, and relevance to the applicant's interests and career goals. Previous scholarship winners can apply. However, a preference may be given to those not awarded previously.

2009 Application Procedure:

Applicants must provide a statement of interests, including: research interests and explain why their research is of importance to the field of limnology and/or watershed management, career goals, and intended use of scholarship funds (one-page limit); a one-page resume; and recent transcripts of all college/university course work. A recommendation from someone in the applicant’s field of study is encouraged, but not required.

All application materials should be sent to the WALPA Scholarship Program Committee by April 15, 2009; email submission of the application as a PDF file is preferred. The scholarship recipients will be contacted by the Scholarship Program Committee in May 2009, and announced at the 2009 WALPA conference in Spokane, WA, September 22-23, 2009.

2009 WALPA Scholarship Announcement (.pdf)

Please send the completed application packet/file to:

Frank M. Wilhelm
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
University of Idaho
PO BOX 441136 
Moscow ID 83844-1136
Email: fwilhelm(at)uidaho(dot)edu

Past Recipients 

2008 WALPA Scholarship Award Winners 

2007 WALPA Scholarship Award Winners 

2006 WALPA Scholarship Award Winners 

2005 WALPA Scholarship Award Winners 

2004 WALPA Scholarship Award Winners