I am writing to announce that applications for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (conservationscholars.ucsc.edu) at the University of California Santa Cruz are now available, and to ask for your help reaching prospective Scholars. Each March we select 20 early-undergraduate Scholars from around the country to participate in a two-year conservation mentorship program centered on the summers between academic years. Our goal is to serve students from groups traditionally underrepresented in conservation, across disciplines, who can contribute to diversifying, redefining, and strengthening efforts to protect land, wildlife and water. We focus our efforts on serving college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors with two years of college left at a stage when we can support their undergraduate careers and their choices as they graduate. Students who attend or are transferring to any four-year institution in the US, its territories and Native nations are eligible.
During the first year Scholars participate in an eight-week, intensive summer course integrating conservation design, leadership and research experiences while traveling with a close group of peers and mentors. During the second summer, Scholars pursue eight-week research and practice internships with nationally recognized conservation organizations and agencies. A professional development retreat after the second summer brings together the Scholar cohort and prepares them to apply for jobs and graduate school. Throughout the two years and beyond, we work with home mentors at each Scholar’s campus to provide ongoing support. Our Scholars receive a $4,000 stipend each summer and become part of the national Doris Duke Conservation Scholars network for life.
I hope you will share our program information with faculty, eligible students, and others in your professional and community networks. Applications for the 2019 class of Scholars are available on the website and due February 8, 2019.