Eligibility & Process

Potential applicants are nominated by a teacher or guidance counselor between September and December 15 of the academic school year.
The scholarship application opens January 4 and closes March 8.
The recipient will be selected by April 15 of the calendar year,
The scholarship award will be presented during the June senior awards ceremony.

Nomination & Eligibility

Nomination

The Scholarship will be recommended by JDHS teachers and counselors as early as sophomore year to qualified students. Guidance meetings during junior year will be utilized to recommend applicants. Staff who can advise regarding a student's demonstrated qualification include: Springfield Leadership Advisor, Student Council Advisor, Volunteer Club Advisor, Environmental Club Advisor, Civic Leaders of America Advisor, School Counselor.

Eligibility Requirements

In the final (senior) year of high school, having attended at least two (2) years at and to be graduated from JDHS
GPA ≥ 3.0 (unweighted) through end of junior year.
Completed volunteer or paid work in an environmentally-focused organization (in-school, local community, or other external entity), or demonstrated independent work corroborated by an external organization.
Demonstrate admission to and acceptance of offer at an institution of higher learning (college/university, technical school) or organization for which employment or volunteer work is planned, prior to receipt of the scholarship funds.

Merit-based

The scholarship is offered to the student who best meets the Objectives and Criteria, regardless of financial need, and without regard to race, gender, creed or any other label.

Application

The JDHS Environmental Leadership Scholarship application entails four (4) components, all of which are submitted through the JDHS Scholarship application portal. Only complete applications will be considered. No financial information shall be submitted.

1. Application Form. Basic demographic and contact information.

Confirm having met the Eligibility requirements.
Agree to have the high school transcript reviewed by the teacher panel (Internal Selection Committee). [The External Selection Committee does NOT review the academic record.]

2. Letters of Recommendation. At least three (3) and no more than five (5) letters should be submitted that can attest to the student's interests, activities, attitude, and accomplishments in environmental sustainability.

At least one (1) should come from outside the high school.
A letter from a teacher may focus on academics.
The letter may not be from a parent or guardian, unless that adult was directly involved in your activities pertinent to the Scholarship application.
The person providing the recommendation should explain his/her role or relevant background and how long he/she has known the applicant and describe specific information about the activities in which the applicant has participated.

3. Essay. This open-ended essay allows the student to share his/her (“their”) interests, participation and leadership, accomplishments, and career and/or personal plans around environmental sustainability. The Selection Committee is interested in academic work but more particularly co-curricular activities (e.g., Environmental Club and/or STEM Club), and/or any leadership activity outside of school, and especially as this is related to environmental sustainability.

Format.
- Submit as a PDF document.
- Ensure the full name is included in the header of every page and indicate the page number (pagination) in the footer center.
- Use 12 point font with left adjusted margins.
- The word limit is 10,000 words (suggested length 2,000 – 5,000).
Content. This essay is a forum for the student to discuss him/herself: interests; activities; accomplishments; lessons learned; insights; and how leadership skills have been demonstrated or learned. It can:
- Describe personal growth including obstacles and how they have been overcome; concerns or aspirations for the world; personal goals for college or other post-high school education, experiences, and/or career as they relate to environmental sustainability. (Any or all of these do not need to be covered!)
- Briefly describe the issue(s) or topic(s) in environmental sustainability for which the student has participated or studied. Pertinent hyperlinks to external sources can be embedded, but the student should use his/her own words as much as possible to provide descriptions.
- If there is (are) an external work product (document, photos, video, web site, etc.) that the student wants to discuss and share, it should be included as an appendix. Any appended materials should be identified by document name in the body of the essay or have the student’s name on them. Graphics should not be embedded i the body of the document unless it is small and essential to the message.

This document must be an original work product. It is acceptable to have a teacher or parent review your essay and provide edits. Applicants are admonished to not use AI to generate content or edit for style! This type of writing is easy to spot, and any essay suspected of using AI-generated content or style will be discounte d accordingly.

4. Recorded Presentation Video. In lieu of an in-person interview, this open-ended presentation is intended to be a personal message that supplements the essay and (optional) attached materials which gives the Selection Committee members a chance to meet each applicant and understand how and why he/she deserves to win this scholarship, focusing on motivation, interests, activities, and accomplishments.

The length—5 to10 minutes—is a brief amount of time that requires the student to distill his/her message into a focused narrative.
The video is being judged based on its content and clarity, not style. Fancy graphics or video materials, or professional backdrops are not necessary, but if they enhance your message, they can be included.
The student can read from a prepared script, use an outline, or ‘ad lib.’ Some parts of the video may be recorded in the location where pertinent activities occurred, or it can just be the student talking into the camera. What is important is how clearly and effectively the applicant communicates what he/she wants to say. The applicant’s ‘talking head’ needs to appear at least at the beginning and the end.
Once the video has been produced in any format, it should be converted to MP4 format and published as a private YouTube… with the URL into the Video field.
Actual work products or documentation thereof may be optionally submitted as supplementary matter.

Only the designated Selection Committee members will have access to the video. Upon completion of the application, the student is free to share the essay and or video with others or make it (them) publicly available.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria apply to selection and awarding of the Scholarship. Also see External Selection Committee.

General

Active study and activities toward protection of the natural environment and/or mitigation of human impacts on environmental sustainability, demonstrated by participation and leadership activities and accomplishments in the classroom and/or (preferably) through extracurricular activities, and ability to communicate them.

Areas of interest and activity

Any one or more of the following range of disciplines: science, medicine, engineering, industrial hygiene, computer science and other technology, law, history, politics, art, education, media and communications, business and economics, food science, agriculture, wildlife and animal care and protection, or other applicable field in the private or public sector.

Academic requirements

While academic performance is an important consideration, it is not the primary qualification or selection determinant to apply for be awarded the scholarship. The following are minimum requirements:

GPA ≥ 3.0 (unweighted).
Enrolled in or taken: AP Environmental Science, regular Environmental Science, or equivalent college or community college level course

Co-curricular activities

Environmental Club and/or STEM Club, and/or any leadership activity (volunteer or paid) outside of school involving a focus on Environmental Sustainability are very important considerations. Life activities such as diet or gardening are deemed co-curricular activities. Participation in organized sports is not required.

Scoring and Decision Process

The Internal Selection Committee members use a standardized scoring system to independently rate academic performance (teachers only have access to applicants' transcripts), which is not the primary determinant and is not based solely on GPA.

Academic Criteria

It is expected that many if not all Scholarship applicants will be excellent students. This Scholarship is not primarily centered on GPA or grades in particular courses. For the teachers (Internal Selection Committee), academic performance (through review of the transcript, remarks and other information in the student’s record) are ranked as follows:

Plus (+). Excellent academic record, including taking challenging courses (e.g., AP) and demonstrating high grades and noteworthy work where projects or papers are required. Since seniors may be enrolled in AP or regular Environmental Science at the time of the application, grade information may not be available.
Acceptable (0). Good academic record meeting overall eligibility (GPA 3.0), with strengths in certain subjects but not others.
Minus (-). Academic record does not meet overall eligibility (GPA 3.0) or has overt gaps or deficiencies. Candidates who have a minus rating will not be advanced to the External Selection Committee.

Application Criteria

Each applicant’s application—the essay, letters of recommendation, and recorded presentation video—is independently scored by each Selection Committee member for each of five (5) categories reflect elements of Leadership, for a total of 50 possible points. The five (5) elements are:

Vision and Initiation. Student demonstrates a clear, compelling direction and goals for his work toward environmental sustainability. Explains his/her specific motivation and how his/her efforts or activities relate to and advances environmental sustainability. Ideally demonstrates innovation and creativity in his/her contributions. Utilizes the other criteria to turn abstract concepts and ideas into tangible results.
Commitment and Involvement. Whether individually or as part of a larger organization or project, the student demonstrates repeated, consistent participation and activity towards accomplishing and advancing goals and objectives toward supporting environmental sustainability. Active participation, such as regular attendance at meetings or performing regular activities as part of an organization’s efforts, are recognized through a letter of recommendation or a tangible outcome.
Teamwork and Communication. Student demonstrates cooperation and ability to work closely or in parallel with others, including adults or students, in learning, evaluating or analyzing, or performing activities. (Some projects may involve individual activities, but ultimately some other persons or recipients interact with the student.) Demonstration of trustworthiness, integrity, empathy, and adaptability. Actively listens and contributes to discussions. Willingness to confront adversity and setbacks, assist others, fill in when needed to get tasks completed, or do the “little things” that advance the overall mission. Doesn’t ‘complain’ but does voice opinions, objections or concerns and offers solutions, when applicable.
Execution. Student demonstrates the ability to get objectives and tasks done—as reflected by the preceding criteria. Shows ability to take abstract concepts or ideas and turn them into deliverable results in a defined period. Performs activities with or without specific instruction, guidance, or oversight. Demonstrates attention to detail while remaining focused on the “big picture.” Demonstrates reliability (e.g., being on time; delivering by due dates) and ability to anticipate and/or solve problems as they arise. Communicates effectively verbally and/or in writing or other formats.
Character. Student demonstrates personality and behavior that makes him/her successful in accomplishing his/her goal of advancing environmental sustainability. Seeks feedback and accepts instruction, supervision, suggestions or constructive criticism. Demonstrates adaptability and resiliency through change, setbacks or ambiguity, and utilizes these as learning opportunities. Honest, diplomacy, empathy and ability to utilize these traits to build relationships, empower others as well as to achieve goals.

Decision

The applicant with the highest cumulative score will be awarded the Scholarship. If there is a tie, two Scholarships each equal to half the total (i.e., $5,000 each) may be awarded.

Disbursement & Reporting

Disbursement of Funds

Upon graduation, the Scholarship Recipient will provide the institution or organization registrar information to the Scholarship chairman, who will confirm admission.

The external Selection Committee will contact the recipient and his/her parents to coordinate and provide details, including provisions for Deferral and Revocation.

Information about deferral or revocation is available in the Scholarship's charter document.

Recipient Reporting and Follow-up

Each Recipient is required to provide the external Committee with a written report on his/her progress and activities (academic and non-academic) during the first year and second year of the disbursement, which will be posted on the Scholarship web site with the Recipient’s biography.

The Recipient is thereafter encouraged but not obligated to keep the committee periodically updated, to post an update on his/her activities, and to continue to utilize mentorship (see Mentorship).
The Recipient is also invited to post his/her progress and ideas on the Scholarship web site.

Mentorship

All members of the External Selection Committee are available to provide informal guidance, make connections, or provide other information to Scholarship recipients on an ongoing basis.

The External Selection Committee will assign a mentor upon initial award.
The Recipient will be required to check in with the Mentor a minimum of four (4) times during the two years for which the Scholarship has been applied.
Thereafter, mentorship remains available and is not limited to the assigned Mentor.

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