The Apprentice Ecologist Initiative has engaged tens of thousands of young volunteers from around the world in environmental cleanup and conservation projects since 1999. The goals of the Initiative are to elevate youth into leadership roles by engaging them in environmental cleanup and conservation projects; empower young people to rebuild the environmental and social well-being of our communities; and improve local living conditions for both citizens and wildlife through education, activism, and action. The scholarship will be awarded annually to the authors of the top-ranked Apprentice Ecologist essays. Applicants must enroll in or attend an accredited post-secondary (undergraduate at college or university) educational institution. Applicants should embody the spirit of the Apprentice Ecologist Initiative by demonstrating initiative, leadership, and environmental stewardship in their project. While there is no minimum or maximum length for essays, most of our past winners have written essays that ranged from about 750 to 1,500 words long. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.