The IWFA Scholarship Trust has been established to provide financial aid to qualified graduate students of Marine Science, which is defined as “the study of the ocean, its ecosystems, and its life forms, as well as the study of coastal environments, oceanic currents, and the sea floor.” The Board of Trustees will award scholarships each year to assist in funding research and related expenses in such amounts and to such students as will be determined at its discretion. Awards are competitive and typically range between $1000 and $3000. 

The following criteria will be considered: 

1. The candidates for a scholarship must be matriculated at a recognized university in the United States or its territorial possessions and pursuing a course of study leading to a graduate degree in one of the Marine Sciences. 

2. Only candidates approved as proper recipients for scholarship aid by the faculty of the university he or she is attending, with research project developed, will be considered. 

3. The personal qualifications considered will include, but not be limited to, evidence of general aptitude and ability in the area of study, the character of the candidate, and her/his previous academic accomplishments. The Trustees will also consider the candidate’s relative need as it relates to the stated research project when compared with that of other candidates. 

4. No preference will be granted to any candidate by reason of any relationship that the candidate may have to a member of the IWFA. 

 ***ALL RECIPIENTS OF AN IWFA SCHOLARSHIP TRUST AWARD MUST PROVIDE A PHOTO AND SIGNED RELEASE FORM GRANTING USE OF THE RECIPIENT’S NAME, PHOTO AND A SHORT SUMMARY OF THEIR RESEARCH ON ITS WEBSITE PRIOR TO RELEASE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO THE AWARDEE. *** 

The application period opens on January 1 and the deadline for submissions is March 1.