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Past Chairs' Legacy Scholarship
Deadline to apply: February 13, 2025 3:00 pm CT

National Hydropower Association created the Past Chairs’ Legacy Scholarship in 2008 to encourage students to consider becoming part of the U.S. hydropower industry. Our growing industry has professionals in many different fields, including engineering, IT, biology, environmental sciences, forestry, hydrology, animal sciences, management, financial services, communications, and other areas. Many companies also offer high-paying skilled labor and technical positions.

The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be current college sophomores, juniors or seniors who will be college juniors, seniors or graduate-level students in Fall of 2025.
  • Be enrolled in full-time study at an accredited four-year college, two-year college or vocational or technical school.
  • Have and maintain a 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale.
  • Be United States citizens or legal residents.
  • Must be pursuing a program of study approved by NHA that is related to the hydropower industry. A list of approved programs of study is listed below.

High school seniors are not eligible to apply.

Eligible Programs of Study

  • Earth Sciences Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Systems Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Biology
  • Fisheries
  • Hydrology
  • Geology
  • Forestry
  • Public Relations
  • Public Policy
  • Public Administration
  • Environmental Studies
  • Environmental Management
  • Renewable Energy

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances

Finalists will be selected by Scholarship America, and the NHA panel will select the recipient.

Financial need is not considered.

Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $2,500 award. One award will be granted.

Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Notification

All applicants will be notified in April.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of NHA. Payment is made in early August.

As part of your application, you must upload the following:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
    • Student name
    • School name
    • Grades
    • Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.

National Hydropower Association has partnered with Scholarship America. Selecting the button below will redirect you to the Scholarship America Student Hub!

Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address provided below in the footer as safe senders in your email contact list.