The College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC) is pleased to offer up to four scholarships to current college students and recent graduates to attend the CURC Zero Waste Workshop at the University of Minnesota on Sunday October 25, 2015. The scholarship will provide up to $250 in reimbursement to selected students for direct travel, meal and accommodation costs for students. The goal of the scholarship is to offer college students an opportunity to network with key professionals in the campus recycling and sustainability field, learn what colleges and universities across the country are doing to advance zero waste and take away an experience that helps them to build a career in the recycling and sustainability field.

Please click here to submit an application

 

Deadline to Apply: August 28

 

Scholarship Opportunity

  • Complementary workshop registration
  • $250 stipend
    • Funds can be used to direct costs for travel, accommodations and meals to attend the CURC workshop.
    • Scholars will be reimbursed after the workshop for actual costs. Receipts must be provided for all expenses.
    • Students are responsible for arranging all related logistics
    • Recipients expected to cover any additional costs independently beyond the $250 amount.

Eligibility & Expectations

Scholars must:

  • Be a current student or have graduated within the previous year
  • Be actively involved (or previously) with recycling or zero waste initiatives on their campus
  • Be interested to pursue a career in the recycling / zero waste or broader sustainability field.
  • Attend the full workshop
  • Submit a 500 word or less essay afterward detailing what the learned at the workshop
  • Submit receipts for all expenses

Application Process

  • Submit an online application that includes:
    • Explanation of why you want to attend the workshop and what you hope to get from the experience (250 words or less)
    • Description of your role and involvement campus recycling or sustainability initiatives (100 words or less)
    • Description of your career goals as they relate to zero waste / recycling or sustainability.
  • Arrange for a letter of endorsement to be sent from a senior campus recycling or sustainability staff member, or another faculty or staff member with an oversight or mentor role of the applicant’s recycling or sustainability involvement.

Judging

Scholars will be selected by a judging committee based on the following criteria:

  • Need (up to 5 points)
    • Would they otherwise be able to attend/out scholarship?
    • Are they able to cover other expenses beyond what covered by scholarship?
  • Goals for workshop (up to 10 points)
    • Clear, compelling reason for attending
  • Demonstrated leadership with campus recycling / ZW initiative (up to 10 points)
    • Level of responsibility
    • Level of contribution
    • Successful results
  • Quality of proposal (up to 5 points)
    • Well written, concise essay
    • Clearly communicate points
  • Career vision (up to 5 points)
    • Clear connection between goals for workshop and intended career path
  • Cumulative GPA (up to 5 points)

 

Total:  40 points

Timeline

  • August 28 (end of the day) – Deadline to Apply
  • September 3 – Applicants will be notified whether they’ve received a scholarship
  • Reimbursement checks will be mailed to scholars after the workshop within two weeks of submitting receipts and the post-workshop essay.

 

For questions about the grant, contact Alec Cooley at acooley@kab.org.