The Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference Student Scholarship

2025 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference Student Scholarship Program

The Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference Student Scholarship was created in 2021 thanks to Larry Williamson’s commitment to increasing young and aspiring professionals’ access to the field of conservation. The scholarship awards one undergraduate student per year the opportunity to attend the Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference (PLCC) to facilitate entry and foster interest in conservation careers.

As a Pennsylvania State University alumnus with a degree in Recreation and Parks Administration, Larry Williamson began his career in 1969 with the PA Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and was involved with the management of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants program. Over the course of a 38-year career with the Commonwealth, he spearheaded and managed a variety of other recreation and conservation initiatives during his time both as the Director of the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation and as Deputy Secretary of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Larry continues to advocate for parks, recreation, and conservation throughout Pennsylvania.

Application deadline: March 4, 2025

Award*: All-inclusive registration for one undergraduate student to attend the Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference (PLCC) to be held at The Penn Stater, State College April 2-4, 2025. WeConservePA will handle hotel lodging and registration, which includes meals with vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free/dairy-free options. The value of the scholarship is $900.

Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students based in Pennsylvania. Interested applicants must be able to demonstrate their interest in the environment, nature, and related fields of study. Priority will be given to students who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). Priority will be given to students who reside within a 40-mile radius of the PLCC venue.

Review Process: Applications will be reviewed by an ad-hoc committee of five (5) individuals comprised of WeConservePA Staff, planning committee members, and at least one (1) self-selected participant from the Pennsylvania Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Community. The recipient will be notified by phone and email.

*If there are no applicants in a given year, the Scholarship monies will remain in the fund to be carried over for the next year.

Student Scholarship Application

Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference Student Scholarship Application

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Contact Information

Name*

First Last

Pronouns*

Email*

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Do You Identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color?*

Yes

Education

Do You Study/Reside in Pennsylvania?*

Yes

Name of the Institution Where You Study:*

What Degree or Area of Study are You Pursuing?*

Motivations

How did you hear about the PLCC Student Scholarship?*

Share your acedemic, professional, or personal motivations for attending the Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference (300 words):*

Additional Feedback

Nominate a Student to receive the Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference Student Scholarship

Do you wish to nominate an undergraduate student to receive the Scholarship? A student can be nominated by a teacher, professor, mentor, etc. Complete the form below to nominate a student. A student does not need to be nominated to apply for the scholarship.