Mission Statement:

The Mission of the VSBA Scholarship Program is to provide financial assistance to students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the study of Apiculture and advancement within the beekeeping, agriculture and environmental science industries.  The Scholarship will provide financial tuition assistance for the selected candidate as well as waive the registration fee for the individual to attend the next scheduled VSBA Fall/Spring Conference.

Goals of the VSBA Scholarship Program

 

To increase the number and quality of future beekeepers by increasing the investment in college students who may explore the dynamic field of Apiculture.  Our assumption is that a student that is more informed in the interconnectedness of the environment and its interactions with pollinators, the natural ecosystem, and humans, will be a better informed beekeeper and their understanding might help to guide the VSBA through current and future challenges.   

The Scholarship Program shall do this by:

• promoting the relationship between VSBA and higher education and career opportunities existing within the Commonwealth of Virginia 

• providing a venue for community and business efforts to support apicultural-minded students enrolling in institutions of higher learning.

• Supporting students in all areas that may directly or indirectly benefit apiculture or pollinator health and pollinator protection.  

Manner of Award of the Scholarship

• The $1,000 scholarship will be paid toward the student’s tuition or fees.

• The scholarship will be paid as a reimbursement for the approved courses submitted in the application.

• The payments will be made as soon as the scholarship recipient's enrollment has been verified.

 

Award Criteria

 

• Preference will be given to candidates who, in the judgment of the VSBA Scholarship Committee, are serious in their commitment to pursuing a career in apiculture.  For example, a serious candidate may be planning to pursue a career as a commercial beekeeper, an entomologist, a researcher in apiculture, a queen breeder, or similar profession.  

• If the candidate is convicted of a felony, the scholarship will be revoked.

• The candidate must supply a copy of their College Transcript for the class being reimbursed.

 

Scholarship Eligibility

• The candidate must be a student who is in good academic standing.

• The candidate must be a student enrolled in an accredited Virginia college or university undergraduate degree program that is preparing the candidate to pursue a career in apiculture or related industry such as entomology, environmental science or agriculture.

• The candidate must be a citizen of the United States.

 

 

Scholarship Application

• Qualified candidates must complete an application form providing their basic contact information, brief beekeeping experience or environmental education, and other relevant data.

• Candidates must provide at least two references from professors or academic advisors.

• Candidates must write an essay of no less than two paragraphs and no more than 2 pages describing the reasons they feel they should be awarded the scholarship.  

Please address one of the following questions in your essay.

1. What inspired you to pursue your chosen field of study or career path, and how do you plan to make a difference in this area for pollinators?
2. How do you plan to use your education and skills to promote pollinator conservation and educate others about its importance?
3. What do you think are the most promising new technologies or approaches for promoting pollinator conservation, and how do you plan to stay up-to-date on these developments?

• Application and essay must be typed or legibly printed in blue or black ink.

• Applications must be received by the Chairperson of VSBA Scholarship Committee by April 1 of the academic year in which the applicant will attend college.