Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation (MWWF) recognizes that a strong, responsible, and sustainable future requires a knowledgeable workforce reflective of our society at large. This scholarship aims to promote diversity by assisting students interested in a career in environmental and/or sustainability fields.

Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation
mwwf@mnchamber.com

Up to two recipients will be awarded a scholarship (up to $5,000 each) per academic year. One rising junior will be accepted per year with the opportunity to receive the scholarship again in their senior year (up to $10,000 over a 2-year period).

Read and follow the instructions carefully prior to submitting your application. All winners will be notified on the first Monday in April. 

To be eligible, students must:

-Bring the perspectives or experiences of an underrepresented group (including, but not limited to BIPOC populations, women, LGBTQ+, or low-income)

-Be a current or rising junior (starting junior year in the fall of 2024)

-Enrolled in a degree program in environmental studies, natural sciences, or other relevant areas of study

- Attend a school located in Minnesota or be a resident of Minnesota

- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

-Not be related to any of the directors, officers, or selection committee members of MWWF.

 

All applicants are required to:

-Complete the Scholarship Application and submit it from December 1 to February 28th, 2024

-Provide all required documents, including:

           -Signed letter of recommendation from a non-relative who has a science/natural science background and is familiar with your goals and aptitude.

           - A one-page, 300-500 word, typed essay describing how your college studies relate to your career goals in an environmental field. 

 

The Scholarship Selection Committee will be appointed by the Board of Directors of MWWF. The Scholarship Selection Committee will meet on an as needed basis, and shall have the sole authority to select award recipients.

Applicants may be contacted by the Scholarship Selection Committee to conduct an in-person (online/virtual) interview before any award decision is made.

Neither the Board of Directors of MWWF nor the Scholarship Selection Committee are required to award any scholarships if applications are found insufficient or for any other reason.

 

The award is offered in the fall semester of each academic year. Past recipients are eligible to re-apply for additional school years. The scholarship will be paid to the applicant’s school once a tuition bill is presented to MWWF.

The MWWF was created in 1994 to help businesses and organizations throughout Minnesota undertake new waste prevention and recycling programs. In 2008, the MWWF created sibling program Energy Smart with the purpose of helping businesses save energy through conservation, efficiency, and cost-saving strategies. For the past 28 years, the MWWF has helped thousands of organizations throughout Minnesota minimize their impact on the environment and achieve cost savings through waste reduction, recycling, reuse, energy efficiency, and other sustainability initiatives. 

If selected, you will be asked for documentation to support the data you provide. Likewise, all correspondence and award agreements will be generated from the personal information submitted below. So, please use proper spelling, capitalization and punctuation.

This information is only used to for contacting applicants about the scholarship and determining eligibility. This information will not be kept beyond the scholarship recipient decision. 

Please describe how your college studies relate to your career goals in an environmental field. 

By submitting this application, I affirm that the facts set forth in it are true and complete. I understand that if I am accepted as a scholarship recipient, any false statements, omissions, or other misrepresentations made by me on this application may result in the loss of this scholarship. Additionally, I agree to inform Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation of my first job upon graduating college.