2007 Budweiser Conservation Scholarship Program

Program Summary
Anheuser-Busch and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (Foundation) are seeking applications for the 2007 Budweiser Conservation Scholarship Program. This competitive scholarship program supports and promotes innovative research or study that seeks to respond to today’s most pressing conservation issues. The Budweiser Conservation Scholarship Program seeks to support the next generation of leaders by providing scholarships to eligible graduate and undergraduate students who are poised to make a significant contribution to the field of conservation.

As a company, Anheuser-Busch demonstrates corporate leadership in the areas of wildlife and habitat conservation, renewable energy, water conservation and recycling. The Foundation and its federal partners share these interests and in partnership with Anheuser-Busch seek to support innovative management approaches, creative partnerships and new tools to advance leadership in these four areas.

Under the 2007 Budweiser Conservation Scholarship Program, ten scholarships of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to cover students’ expenses for tuition, fees, books, room and board and other direct expenses related to their studies. Awards will be made based on merit and will take into consideration the student’s academic achievements and their ability and commitment to develop innovative solutions that are designed to address real and pressing issues affecting the conservation of natural resources. Specific areas of interest under the 2007 scholarship program include innovative research or study addressing the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats, water conservation and watershed management, and conservation of natural resources through waste minimization, recycling and litter prevention.

The Foundation welcomes applications from all qualified students. Upon receipt of the applications, the Foundation will work with leading professional organizations, academic institutions and federal resource agencies to review qualified applications from colleges nad universities across the United States. The Budweiser Conservation Scholarship program is highly competitive with over 300 applications having been received for 15 scholarships awarded under last year's program.

Eligibility
To be eligible for consideration, a student must be a United States citizen at least 21 years of age and enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education in the United States pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree (sophomores and juniors in the current academic year only) in environmental science, natural resource management, biology, public policy, geography, political science or related disciplines. Recipients are eligible for one year of scholarship support.

Application Process
The Foundation will work with professional organizations and universities to solicit applications from throughout the country. To apply, students must complete an application and submit an essay of no more than 1,500 words describing their academic objectives. In preparing the essays, students are encouraged to focus on a specific issue affecting the conservation of natural resources in the United States and the research or study they propose to address the issue. The essay should specifically discuss the broader impacts of the student’s work to the field of conservation in the areas of conservation of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats, water conservation and watershed management, and conservation of natural resources through waste minimization, recycling and litter prevention. In addition, please include a title for the proposed research and a short abstract. Applicants are also encouraged to include a one- to two-page research plan as an attachment. The research plan should address the status of any approvals and/or permits that may be required to implement the project. Three letters of recommendation, including at least two from faculty under whom the student has worked directly, must be submitted as part of the application package.

In addition, applicants must include an official transcript from all colleges or graduate level academic institutions they have attended. The complete application package must be submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and be postmarked no later than April 16, 2007. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee made up of representatives from professional organizations, universities and federal resource and research agencies. Applicants will be evaluated based upon their knowledge of conservation issues; the merits of their proposed research based upon its significance to the field of conservation, feasibility and overall quality; the innovativeness of their proposed research or study; their academic achievements; and their commitment to leadership in the field of conservation. Winners of the 2007 Budweiser Conservation Scholarship have now been contacted by phone, and turndown letters sent by email. For those who have not heard from the Foundation yet may have had their turn-down letters captured in an email spam filter. A formal announcement of the winners will be made on this website shortly.

Scholarship Conditions
The award may be used only for tuition, fees, books, room and board, or other specifically approved expenses related to the student’s research. Payments may supplement, but not duplicate, benefits from the educational institution or from other foundations, institutions or organizations. The combined benefits from all sources may not exceed the costs of tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other approved expenses as prescribed by the institution. Award recipients will be required to submit documentation approved by their educational institution that documents the student’s anticipated expenses and combined financial benefits. Scholarship funds may only be used during the 2007/2008 academic year. After an award is made, any major change in the recipient’s course of study requires prior approval by the Foundation. The Foundation may withhold or terminate a scholarship due to unsatisfactory academic performance.

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