FECF Scholarship Program (Forest Education and Conservation Fund)

FECF Scholarship Program

Funder: Forest Education and Conservation Foundation (FECF), an extension of the North Carolina Forestry Association (NCFA)

Mission: To support the educational, scientific, and technological advancement of forestry through scholarships to students pursuing forestry careers in North Carolina.

Geographic Scope

• Limited to: North Carolina residents only

Award Amounts

Multiple scholarships available annually:

• $2,000 - One scholarship for students at North Carolina State University (NCSU)
• $2,000 - One scholarship for NCSU students pursuing forest management through the Nicholas M. Curtis Memorial Scholarship Endowment
• $1,000 - One scholarship for Haywood Community College students
• $1,000 - One scholarship for Montgomery Community College students
• $1,000 - One scholarship for Wayne Community College students

Additional Benefits

• Complimentary registration to NCFA Annual Meeting (September)
• One night lodging at Annual Meeting venue

Focus Areas

• Eligible Degrees:
  • Forest management or paper science and engineering (College of Natural Resources) at NCSU
  • Forest Management Technology at Haywood, Montgomery, or Wayne Community Colleges

Eligibility Requirements

• Enrollment Status: Rising second-year student in a two-year program OR entering third/fourth year (junior/senior) of a four-year program in fall
• GPA: Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Residency: Must be North Carolina resident
• Prior Awards: Must not have previously received an FECF scholarship
• Eligible Institutions:
  • North Carolina State University (NCSU)
  • Haywood Community College
  • Montgomery Community College
  • Wayne Community College

Special Endowment

Nicholas M. Curtis Memorial Scholarship Endowment: Honors the late Nicholas Maxwell Curtis, a U.S. Army veteran committed to sustainable forestry. One $2,000 scholarship available annually to NCSU students pursuing forest management degrees to ease financial burden.

Contact Information

• Email: Abigail Ridge (for questions)
• Phone: (919) 834-3943
• Address: North Carolina Forestry Association, 1600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 1, Raleigh, NC 27608
• Website: ncforestry.org

Application Process

1. Visit the NCFA Scholarship Program page at ncforestry.org/education/ncfa-scholarship-program
2. Complete the application form
   • Digital application available on website
   • Provide all required information
3. Submit application
   • Email submissions accepted
   • Contact: Abigail Ridge for submission details

Required Materials

• Application form (available on website)
• Proof of enrollment status at eligible institution
• Official transcript or GPA verification (minimum 3.0 GPA)
• North Carolina residency verification
• Declaration of previous FECF scholarship awards (if any)

Submission Details

• Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 27 (annually)
• Next Deadline: March 27, 2027
• Format: Electronic submission preferred

Key Dates

• Application Opens: Early in calendar year (specific date varies)
• Application Deadline: Last Friday in March at 5:00 p.m.
• Announcement: Recipients announced in April/May
• Award Ceremony: NCFA Annual Meeting (September)

Questions

Contact Abigail Ridge at NCFA for any application questions or additional information.