Generous donations allow the Wilderness Institute to offer scholarships for undergraduates pursuing the Wilderness Studies minor through the Wilderness and Civilization program. These scholarships enable students to further their goal of wilderness education while honoring the memory of committed wilderness advocates.

To apply for any scholarship listed below, a student must be enrolled currently at the University of Montana and have submitted an application, or be in the process of applying, to the Wilderness and Civilization program.

Applications are closed. Check back in late November 2024.

Benjamin Rosenberg Cohen Scholarship

Description: This Scholarship provides funding for undergraduate students at the University of Montana who are pursuing Wilderness Studies through the Wilderness and Civilization program. This scholarship was established in loving memory of Ben Cohen by his wife, Connie Cohen. Ben contributed tremendously to the state of Montana. After taking forestry and geology courses at the University of Montana, Ben worked both as a wilderness guard in the Bitterroot National Forest and as an engineer for the Forest Service in Whitefish. While in Whitefish, Ben was elected to the state House of Representatives and served four terms from 1984 to 1992. In addition, Ben owned, operated, and “grew” North Valley Refuge for twenty years, where he pioneered curbside collection of trash and recyclables in the Flathead Valley. Ben loved the outdoors—to ski, swim, hike, and play soccer and rugby. Ben contributed generously to Montana, his community, and his family.

Eligibility
To be eligible for the Cohen Scholarship, a student must be in the process of applying to, or already accepted to, the Wilderness and Civilization program. Eligible students must demonstrate academic ability; students from all majors are eligible. If you are not accepted to the program, or are accepted but do not enroll in the program, the scholarship will not be awarded.

How to Apply
Please complete your scholarship application in the UM Scholarship Portal. Once you have completed the general application, you will see the FCFC Conditional Application for the Cohen Scholarship in Recommended Opportunities. There, you will upload the application materials detailed below.

**Note: In the general application, find the question asking "Have you been accepted to the Wilderness Studies minor program?" You must answer YES to this question, even if you have not yet been accepted.

Application Materials Must Include the following:
(1) A cover letter that explicitly addresses your interest in this scholarship and your academic ability.

(2) Two letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a university-level faculty member. If applying for multiple Wilderness Institute scholarships, the same two letters of recommendation may be used for all applications.

For More Information Contact Andrea Stephens at andrea.stephens@mso.umt.edu | 406.243.6956

Samuel Cooper Howell Sylvester Memorial Scholarship

Description: This Scholarship provides funding for undergraduate students at the University of Montana who are pursuing Wilderness Studies through the Wilderness and Civilization program. This scholarship was established in loving memory of Sam Sylvester by his parents Scott Sylvester and Tori Howell-Sylvester. Sam was a student in the 2007-8 Wilderness and Civilization program; he drowned tragically in the Kootenai River in the summer of 2008. He was active in UM’s forestry club as well as the woodsman’s team. Sam also had an abiding interest in primitive skills and exploring the backcountry. He was passionate about the environment and wilderness protection.

Eligibility
To be eligible for the Sam Sylvester Scholarship, a student must be in the process of applying to, or already accepted to, the Wilderness and Civilization program.  If you are not accepted to the program, or are accepted but do not enroll in the program, the scholarship will not be awarded.

How to Apply
Please complete your scholarship application in the UM Scholarship Portal. Once you have completed the general application, you will see the FCFC Conditional Application for the Sylvester Scholarship in Recommended Opportunities. There, you will upload the application materials detailed below.

**Note: In the general application, find the question asking "Have you been accepted to the Wilderness Studies minor program?" You must answer YES to this question, even if you have not yet been accepted.

Application Materials Must Include the following:
(1) A cover letter that explicitly addresses your interest in this scholarship as well as your interests in primitive skills, backcountry exploration, and/or wilderness studies.

(2) Contact information for two references who can attest to your character as well as your interest in wilderness studies.

For More Information Contact Andrea Stephens at andrea.stephens@mso.umt.edu | 406.243.6956

Worf Family Memorial Scholarship

Description: The Worf Family Memorial Wilderness Scholarship provides an annual award to a student enrolled in the Wilderness and Civilization Program or majoring in Wilderness Stewardship (if that major is established). The scholarship was initially established in 1996 by William A. and Eva Jean Worf in memory of their sons Gary and Keith. Wilderness Watch and various others also contributed to this fund. Gary and Keith died in separate accidents--Gary in 1980 and Keith in 1993. "Both Gary and Keith held a deep respect for nature in general and wilderness in particular," according to their father. Eva Jean, who passed away in 2005, shared this family passion for wilderness and in her memory the scholarship was renamed in 2007 as the Worf Family Memorial Wilderness Scholarship. Bill Worf is a 1950 graduate of the UM School of Forestry and is one of three founders of Wilderness Watch, a national nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to preserving America's wilderness and wild and scenic rivers.

Eligibility
To be eligible for the Worf Scholarship, a student must be an incoming, current, or former undergraduate student in the Wilderness and Civilization program whose major is in the W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation. Preference given to students demonstrating financial need. If you are not accepted to the program, or are accepted but do not enroll in the program, the scholarship will not be awarded.

How to Apply
Please complete your scholarship application in the UM Scholarship Portal. Once you have completed the general application, you will see the FCFC Conditional Application for the Worf Scholarship in "Recommended Opportunities." There, you will upload the application materials detailed below.

**Note: In the general application, find the question asking "Have you been accepted to the Wilderness Studies minor program?" You must answer YES to this question, even if you have not yet been accepted.

Application Materials Must Include the following:
(1) A one-page essay regarding the public value and importance of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

(2) Two letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a university-level faculty member. If applying for multiple Wilderness Institute scholarships, the same two letters of recommendation may be used for all applications.

For More Information Contact Andrea Stephens at andrea.stephens@mso.umt.edu | 406.243.6956

Davidson Honors College General Scholarship

Description: This Scholarship provides funding for undergraduate students in the Davidson Honors College at the University of Montana who are pursuing the Wilderness Studies minor through the Wilderness and Civilization program.

Eligibility
This scholarship is open to all University of Montana undergraduate students in the Davidson Honors College with a 3.4 gpa or higher. Students must be in the process of applying to, or already accepted to, the Wilderness and Civilization program. 

If you are not accepted to the program or are accepted but do not enroll in the program, the scholarship will not be awarded. Financial need and academic merit are considered in the selection process.

How to Apply
To apply, follow the elibility criteria and submission instructions provided on the DHC Scholarships page for General DHC Scholarships:

https://www.umt.edu/honors-college/current-students/scholarships/default.php