Application deadline: Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Gladys Black’s legacy lives continues to live on through the environmental education of Iowa students.

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation created the Gladys Black Scholarship Fund in 2004 to memorialize Gladys Black, a Marion County bird enthusiast, expert and author. The goal of the scholarship is to launch her county’s next generation of conservationists and naturalists.

Each year, scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000 are offered to students who are residents of Marion County, Iowa, or who attend a Marion County high school. Successful applicants must be students in a conservation or natural resources field at a fully accredited college or university.

For more information, contact Laurie Fenimore, Development and Communications Associate, at lfenimore@inhf.org or (515) 288-1846, extension 13.

While raising funds to purchase the land that would become the Gladys Black Bald Eagle Refuge, INHF invited contributions to the project from individuals, businesses and corporations, government entities and other nonprofit organizations.

Their enthusiastic response allowed INHF to surpass its fundraising goal for the land’s acquisition and protection. Additional funds of $38,000 were used to create an endowed scholarship.

The Red Rock Environmental Education Fund is INHF’s local partner in administering this scholarship. Scholarship applications are generally available in January, and are due in April. Students may apply to renew scholarship each year they are in college.

INHF is a nonprofit, conservation group that works with private landowners and other partners to protect Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. Since its founding in 1979, INHF has helped protect almost 100,000 acres of Iowa’s wild places.

INHF land projects in Marion County include the Gladys Black Bald Eagle Refuge and the Kuyper-Folkerts Conservation and Education Area.

printable application

2006 recipients

2005 recipients

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.