GCA Awards for Summer Environmental Studies Grant

GCA Awards for Summer Environmental Studies Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Garden Club of America
Amount: US $3,000
Last Updated: December 25, 2025

Summary

The GCA Awards for Summer Environmental Studies provide financial assistance of $3000 to students pursuing environmental studies. Established by the Garden Club of America, these awards aim to foster environmental education and careers. Eligible applicants include U.S. college students after their freshman, sophomore, or junior years, who demonstrate a commitment to environmental betterment. The program honors the legacy of Clara Carter Higgins, among others, ensuring that future generations can engage in critical environmental studies.

Overview

GCA Awards for Summer Environmental Studies Purpose To encourage studies and careers in the environmental field, with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience beyond the regular course of study. These awards offer students who have demonstrated a keen interest in the betterment of the environment an opportunity for further study at a site chosen by the student. Some of the summer programs students have completed recently include the study of hazardous waste, marine science, energy, plant resources in the tropics, barrier island ecology, and oil spill cleanup and control. History In 1993, the Scholarship Committee responding to the increasing number of excellent applicants for the Higgins Scholarship voted monies from the General Scholarship Fund to create and endow an additional summer environmental studies award. Clara Carter Higgins (Mrs. John W.), of the Worcester (Massachusetts) Garden Club established the original summer environmental studies award in 1964 with a stock gift of approximately $15,000. According to Executive Committee minutes of November 15, 1966, the interest from the fund “was to be used to cover a summer scholarship in conservation, preferably at the college level.” Mrs. Higgins wrote Mrs. Erastus Corning, then president of the GCA, “The Garden Club of America has meant so much to me during my life and I am so deeply appreciative of all it has done. I shall be happy to help someone realize the importance of conservation, if I can.” In 1990, responsibility for the solicitation, screening, and selection of candidates passed from the GCA Conservation Committee to the GCA Scholarship Committee. Provisions Annually funds one Clara Carter Higgins scholar and one or more GCA Summer Environmental Studies scholars at $3000 per recipient in financial assistance for summer coursework in environmental studies. Note that applications for the Clara Carter Higgins Scholarship, GCA Awards for Summer Environmental Studies, Elizabeth Gardner Norweb Scholarship, and Mary T. Carothers Scholarship are considered together.  All summer environmental studies scholarships are considered together. Clara Carter Higgins Scholarship Established in 1964 by Clara Carter Higgins (Mrs. John W.), of the Worcester (Massachusetts) Garden Club with a stock gift of approximately $15,000. According to Executive Committee minutes of November 15, 1966, the interest from the fund “was to be used to cover a summer scholarship in conservation, preferably at the college level.” Mrs. Higgins wrote Mrs. Erastus Corning, then president of the GCA, “The Garden Club of America has meant so much to me during my life and I am so deeply appreciative of all it has done. I shall be happy to help someone realize the importance of conservation, if I can." Elizabeth Gardner Norweb Scholarship To honor Elizabeth Gardner Norweb, ardent conservationist and GCA President from 1979 to 1981, Mrs. Edward K. Poor, Mrs. Walter Marting, and Mrs. Jerome F. Page spearheaded the creation of a fund to establish this scholarship. Mrs. Norweb’s family and friends from across the country quickly responded with contributions, including special support from Shaker Lakes Garden Club, Little Garden Club of Columbus, and the Garden Club of Cleveland. The first recipient was awarded $1500 from the still-growing fund in 2004. The completed corpus for the scholarship was realized a year later, providing the basis for a continuing Norweb scholar. Mary T. Carothers Scholarship In 1998 the family and friends of Mary Trainer Carothers established a scholarship fund as a memorial to the well-loved member of the Noanett (Massachusetts) Garden Club. “Bootsie” Carothers was known for her love for gardening and the environment, both of which extended to local and state horticultural and conservation associations. The Carothers Scholarship achieved full funding in June, 2005.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Open to college students following their freshman, sophomore, or junior year. Eligibility is open to U.S. Citizens and permanent residents who are enrolled in a U.S. - based institution.Only one GCA scholarship, fellowship or award may be applied for annually.