For Some Students, Green Concerns Could Ease Money Concerns

With Earth Day almost here, many people -- including students -- will turn their attention toward conservation and sustainability, at least for 24 hours. But rising and currently enrolled college students whose interest in the environment extends beyond one day could find themselves first in line for scholarships that could conserve their -- and their parents' -- bank accounts.

Here are some of the scholarships available to students who can and will continue to demonstrate their concern for the world and sustainability.

Waterlogic, which specializes in purified water dispensers for homes and offices, offers a $1,500 World Water Issue Scholarship. Applicants must write an essay about one way water conservation can combat world water scarcity.

This scholarship is open to students currently enrolled in college or entering college within 12 months. The application deadline is April 30.

Good360, an Alexandria, Virginia-based nonprofit, works with companies, charities and individual donors to make the process of giving simpler and more effective. It offers the $1,000 Good360 Sustainability Scholarship to high school seniors or college students who have an interest in environmentalism or sustainability.

The scholarship is open to students in all majors with a minimum GPA of 3.3. To apply, students must submit a 200-300-word essay on what sustainability means to them and a photo on Instagram or Twitter. The current application cycle is closed, but look for the next application round to start in fall.

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Dubuque, Illinois-based Crescent Electric Supply Co., which distributes electrical hardware and supplies, offers the $1,000 Crescent Electric Sustainability scholarship to a student who is planning to attend college this year or is already enrolled as an undergraduate freshman, sophomore or junior. Applicants must be between ages 16 and 22.

The application is a little different than most: Applicants must submit a photo, with the hashtag #CEscholarship, to Twitter or Instagram showing how they minimize their carbon footprint. They must then complete the online submission form, including a link to their social media post. Submissions are due by midnight Aug. 8.

Sleeping Organic, a South Carolina-based company that makes sustainable mattresses and bedding products, semi-annually awards the $1,200 Sleeping Organic's Sustainability Scholarship to incoming or current college students who are determined to go beyond the basics of sustainability in the industry they plan to pursue after college.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA. They must also answer two questions about sustainability in either an essay or personal video. The application deadlines are Oct. 1 for the spring semester 2018 award and April 1, 2018, for the fall 2018 semester.

The National Society of High School Scholars Foundation and the Captain Planet Foundation present up to 10 Earth Day Awards worth $500 to high school students who are working on an environmental project. Applicants must submit details of the project and a drawing, painting, video or other creative component that demonstrates the project. The current application cycle is closed, but check the website for announcements for the 2018 applications.

In additional to these national scholarships, a number of organizations offer scholarships aimed at students in specific regions or states. For example, the Air & Waste Management Association: Allegheny Mountain Section offers up to $4,000 in scholarships for undergraduates pursuing environmental careers at eligible universities in West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. In addition to the application, students must submit transcripts, a letter of recommendation and a one-page essay detailing their interest in environmentally related fields.

The 2017-2018 application period has closed, but check the website for updates on the 2018-2019 deadlines.

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Here are a few other state-specific scholarships for environmentally focused college students.

-- The Alabama Environmental Health Association presents a $1,000 scholarship to a junior or senior undergrad studying environmental health or a strongly related field who has made significant contributions to the field and shown dedication to the state. Check the association's website for updates on when the 2017 application cycle opens.

-- California's Calaveras Big Trees Association administers the Emily M. Hewitt Memorial Scholarship, a $1,500 award for a full-time undergraduate or graduate student attending an accredited California university. Applicants must be pursuing a degree in environmental protection, forestry, wildlife and fisheries biology, parks and recreation, park management, environmental law and public policy, environmental art or California history. The application deadline each year is April 15.

-- Illinois' Friends of Volo Bog offers the Environmental Studies/Natural Science Scholarship Program, which awards two $1,000 scholarships -- one for students entering college and the other for students continuing college. To be eligible, applicants must reside in specific Illinois counties. The 2017 application period has ended, but check the website for announcements for the 2018 round.

Working toward a sustainable world benefits the environment, but your efforts could also win you a scholarship and help you avoid taking on excessive student loan debt.

Arthur Murray, a graduate of the University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill, is managing editor of the GoodCall.com newsroom. The organization provides access to information, data, technology and tools, including a scholarship engine, to help visitors make important decisions.