Student Resources

The John Taggart Applied Learning Award in Environmental Sciences is intended to support the work of an outstanding undergraduate student in the Department of Environmental Sciences who is actively engaged in faculty-mentored, applied research with an environmental sciences faculty member. 

The Judy Lund Scholarship is a need-based scholarship that supports students pursuing a degree in environmental sciences. This fund was created in the memory of Judy Lund, an environmental chemist, to commemorate her passion for the environment and advocacy for a greener world.

Available as funds are available.

Available as funds are available.

The Department of Environmental Sciences Field Research Award (also known as the Rotenberg Award) is intended to encourage research and scholarship in undergraduate environmental sciences students. Students who are actively engaged in research supervised by a UNCW Department of Environmental Sciences faculty member are eligible to apply. The funding is provided as an award/stipend, paid directly to the student.

This scholarship is at the discretion of SASHTO and is not awarded each year. It is only awarded as funds are available. 

The EVS Honor’s Thesis Research Award is intended to enhance and support students actively pursuing their honors thesis within the Department of Environmental Sciences by funding research-related expenses.

Students who are currently registered for EVS 499 or HON 499 honors thesis credits and whose committee is chaired by a UNCW EVS faculty member are eligible to apply.

Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS)

Established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2011, the Forgivable Education Loans for Service provides financial assistance to qualified students enrolled in an approved education program and committed to working in critical employment shortage professions in North Carolina. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority provides administration for the program.

Dr. Ralph W. Brauer Fellowship

The Dr. Ralph W. Brauer Fellowship was created through the estate of Dr. Brauer, a long tenured professor at UNCW. It is intended to provide financial support to one or more graduate students to assist with tuition and fees, books, publications or research travel as determined by the dean of the graduate school. A committee appointed by the dean recommends recipients and the amount to be awarded.

Ahuja Academy of Water Quality Fellowship

The Ahuja Academy of Water Quality Fellowship was established by Dr. Satinder "Sut" Ahuja in recognition of his life-long career in the pharmaceutical industry and his desire to improve quality of life. This fellowship will be used to assist graduate students engaged in research related to water quality. The Graduate School receives nominations for this fellowship from departments. Students interested in this award should notify their department. 

Graduate School's Awards for New Scholars

A limited number of scholarships are available to students entering any of UNCW's graduate programs for the first time. Students do not apply for these scholarships. Instead, nominations originate with the departments, which submit their recommendations to the dean of the Graduate School. Criteria include evidence of exceptional scholarship, normally strong GRE scores (or their equivalent) and an excellent undergraduate GPA.

Jane Logan Lackey Fellowship

The Jane Logan Lackey Fellowship is allocated to promote diversity within the Graduate School. An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.25 in the applicant's major is required.

Sylvia and B.D. Schwartz Graduate Fellowship

The Sylvia and B.D. Schwartz Graduate Fellowship may be awarded to any graduate student enrolled in the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The recipients are determined by a select committee appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. 

Lacy C. and Doris L. Sidbury Fellowship

The Lacy C. and Doris L. Sidbury Graduate Fellowship was established by Gwendolyn S. Solomon as a memorial to her parents. It is considered both a merit and need-based fellowship, subject to the criteria used by both the UNCW Graduate School and the Financial Aid and Veterans Services Office.  

In general, scholarships and awards are determined at the end of the spring semester for the upcoming academic year and students must have an established grade point average at UNCW to be eligible.

To apply for scholarships at UNCW, applicants must be an admitted student for the upcoming academic term with access to the SeaNet student portal. Using their assigned student ID number students may access the features within the student portal, including the scholarship application on the Scholarships & Financial Aid Tab.

IMPORTANT: Students who wish to be considered for need based scholarships should also fill out a FAFSA form by March 1.

The Environmental Sciences Graduate Student Association (EVS-GSA) is organized to promote knowledge, research and involvement activities among the environmental sciences graduate students. Monthly meetings are held to inform members of upcoming social, volunteer, and discipline related events. Environmental topics of interest are discussed, and a guest speaker presents at these meetings to offer professional insight.

The EVS-GSA provides financial funding for travel grants, equipment and other fees associated with accelerating professional interest and fellowship among graduate students and the community.

Founded in 1937, The Wildlife Society’s mission is “To inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitats through science-based management and conservation.” The Wildlife Society enhances our members’ networking and learning opportunities, professional and career development, and provides numerous ways for them to get more involved in creating a better future for wildlife and their habitats.

The Wildlife Society’s student chapters are composed of student and professional members of the Society. Based at college campuses across North America, these chapters establish their own locally focused objectives and have their own bylaws, officers, committees and dues structure.

The purpose of our chapter is to allow UNCW students to gain field experience, network with wildlife professionals, learn about contemporary wildlife conservation research and have the opportunity to attend local, state and national workshops and conferences.

Meetings and events for this chapter will allow you to learn skills, gain knowledge and develop as a wildlife professional, thereby better preparing you for a career in the wildlife field and creating a better future for wildlife and their habitats.

For more details contact our UNCW faculty advisor Dr. Rachael Urbanek.

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Founded by undergraduate students at UNC Chapel Hill in 2006, Epsilon Eta was established as a national, gender-inclusive, professional fraternity for students interested in pursuing careers in environmental science and sustainability. The mission is “to foster awareness of the intrinsic relationship between people and their environment through academics, the community, and service.”  The fraternity connects our members to a national network of environmental professionals and likeminded students, “to enhance our actions as stewards of the environment.”

As a national honors fraternity, college campuses across North America can establish chapters with their own locally-focused objectives and have their own bylaws, officers, committees, and dues structure.

UNCW’s Chapter Phi is building a professional network that actively connects regional experts, community groups and agencies, and related university clubs and organizations, to members. Epsilon Eta offers valuable resources for students pursuing environmental careers, offering semesterly service projects, volunteering opportunities, and connections with various university and community speakers. 

Meetings and events for this chapter allow UNCW students to gain knowledge, network with community leaders, and participate in local initiatives and projects regarding environmental health, all of which develop the professional skills necessary to be better prepared for careers in the discipline. For more details or contact our UNCW Faculty advisor Ms. Amy Long.

The UNCW Surfrider Club is the first collegiate-based Surfrider Club in the nation. The UNCW Surfrider Club's mission is the same as the National Surfrider Foundation: Dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network. 

The program has grown to a wide range of activities including organizing school clubs and initiatives based on project-based learning. These range from beach cleanups to eliminating single use plastics on-campus to greening campuses.  UNCW's club events include Beach cleanups, vendors markets, benefit concerts, film festivals, petition signing, on-campus meetings and tabling events, and more.

Our success to affect widespread action to protect our coasts comes in part by motivating students to take action in local coastal conservation. The Surfrider Student Club network also serves as the foundation for cultivating the next generation of leaders for our chapter network, developing lifelong coastal defenders, and helping to expand Surfrider’s mission to protect our ocean, waves and beaches beyond our chapter network.

For more details or contact our UNCW Faculty advisor Dr. Joni (Osku) Backstrom