Black and Latinx Birders Scholarship

Until higher education is accessible, equitable, and free, we will be here to support Black & Latinx Birders in STEAM.

Are you a Black birder or Brown birder that lives in the United States or Puerto Rico and identifies as Black, African-American, and/or Latinx/e/a/o? Are you also an undergraduate student studying in STEAM? Apply for the annual Black and Latinx Birders Scholarship, today! (Looking for the BIPOC Birders Grad Student Mini Grant? Click here.)

ELIGIBILITY

Open to undergraduate students 18 and older, in any year of their college studies (full-time undergraduate). Through this scholarship, we seek to increase the number of Black birders and Latinx birders studying in STEAM*. Scholarship awards range from a minimum of $2,500 to a maximum of $5,000, depending on funding for the current year. Two students will receive a one-time annual award. For questions or to submit supporting documentation, please email: hello@amplifythefuture.org.

RULES

1. Live in and attend college in the United States or Puerto Rico.
2. We want to hear from you!

Tell us about your birding** experience! Please answer these questions:

• How did you become a birder?
• How are you involved in the birding community?
• Why are you pursuing a degree in STEAM?
• How do you plan to bring back your knowledge and skills to your community?

How to tell us:

• Essay: no longer than two pages double spaced. Get creative! Maybe your essay is a Twitter thread that you started? Perhaps an extended IG post? Or maybe you prefer a standard essay format? Either way, tell us about you and answer the four questions above.

• Video: Instead of an essay, send us a video link (two minutes maximum) sharing why you are pursuing your degree and how you plan to share your knowledge with the community.

3. One letter of recommendation to serve as a reference from a current or recent teacher, or mentor. This should be sent directly to us at: hello@amplifythefuture.org.
4. Proof of enrollment at a 2 or 4 year college or university and proof of a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA (high school or college, as appropriate). An email to hello@amplifythefuture.org from the admissions office stating your GPA/academic standing and your enrollment status for the 2022-2023 school year is needed.
5. Must be 18 years or older.
6. Interview with the committee via Zoom.

Submission period opens January 15, 2022

Applications due April 15, 2022

Decisions will be emailed by TBD, 2022

*Note: STEAM (Science Technology Engineer Art Math) includes Science Communications.

**Note: we use the term “birder” in a broad context. Perhaps you’re a lister; bird-centric artist, videographer, or photographer; volunteer at a nature center and engage your community with live birds; lead bird walks; have worked on or are working on a bird-related conservation project at your school; are an apprenticing falconer/or Master falconer. A birder in this context is someone who is actively engaged in lifestyle, with projects, etc. that are centered around birds, bird advocacy, and/or bird conservation.

WHO WE ARE

The Birders Fund committee includes independent members and members of Amplify the Future, Always Be Birdin’, American Bird Conservancy, Audubon New York, and In Color Birding.