Each year, the Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) provides two $500 scholarships to students pursuing a degree in natural resources, agriculture or another related field. One of the scholarships goes to a graduating Fillmore County high school senior. That application is due Friday, March 31. Applications are available at the SWCD office in Preston or online at www.fillmoreswcd.org. Each requires a completed application along with a required essay on “What Natural Resource Conservation Means to Me.” A second $500 scholarship is awarded to a returning college sophomore, junior, or senior, which has an application deadline of July 28, 2017.
Lindsey Weiss, who is from Harmony and a graduate of Fillmore Central and a student at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, was a SWCD scholarship recipient in 2015. She shares her thoughts about what the scholarship means to her:
“The generous scholarship I received from the Fillmore County SWCD was used to help me go to my university’s summer field experience program (UW-Stevens Point Treehaven Field Experience) to gain knowledge and hands-on experience with different aspects of natural resources, including forestry, fisheries, soil, and wildlife. The program also allowed me to meet and network with natural resources professionals. I made new friends at Treehaven who are now some of my closest friends. It was an incredible experience that I will cherish going forward. In the future, I plan to work in soil taxonomy and soil survey. I feel very honored to have been the recipient of the scholarship from the Fillmore County SWCD and I want to thank them for helping me be part of such a meaningful learning experience.”
More information about SWCD scholarships may be obtained by contacting the SWCD office at (507) 765-3878, ext. 3.