Scholarships

Students are welcome to apply for all the scholarships that are applicable to the course they are enrolled in or applying for.

General Scholarships:

WRFI offers small, need-based scholarships to students who might be unable to attend a course without assistance. These scholarships are usually five to ten percent of tuition. To apply for a General WRFI Scholarship, please fill out a WRFI scholarship application form and submit it with your course application. Students will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend that you apply as early as possible.

Matt Thomas Scholarship:

For students applying to Montana Afoot & Afloat: Human/Land Relations, WRFI offers the $1,000 Matt Thomas Scholarship. Applications are due May 20, 2013. Email applications in Microsoft Word format to laurie@wrfi.net, or mail a printed copy to the address below.

Avi Kurganoff Scholarship:

Students applying to Montana Afoot & Afloat: Human/Land Relations for fall 2013 are eligible to apply for the $2,500 Avi Kurganoff Scholarship. Applications are due March 25, 2013. Email applications in Microsoft Word format to laurie@wrfi.net, or mail a printed copy to the WRFI office. WRFI will send notification regarding the award within one week of the due date.

Confluence Fund Scholarship:

WRFI has received a grant from The Confluence Fund to support student scholarships in 2013 and 2014. Students enrolled in any WRFI course except “Colorado Plateau” and “Alaskan Rainforest” are eligible to apply. These awards will be allocated based on financial need and responses to the essay question below. Awards will be between $1,000-$3,000 and may be used for WRFI tuition. To apply for a WRFI Confluence Fund Scholarship, complete WRFI’s scholarship application and respond to the essay question below in 1-2 typed pages:

The Confluence Fund “seeks to be a catalyst for innovative conservation solutions benefiting people, wildlife, and wild landscapes.” How do you envision your involvement with conservation issues developing over the next 5 years? How will participating in a WRFI course help you reach those personal and professional goals?

Applications are due March 11, 2013. Notification will be sent by March 15, 2013. Please email applications in Microsoft Word or PDF format to laurie@wrfi.net, or mail a printed copy to the address below.

Buddy Bonus:

Other options for funding include the WRFI Buddy Bonus. If you recruit a friend or fellow student to participate in a WRFI course, we will take $100 off your tuition. We also encourage you to look into scholarships, grants and low-interest education loans from outside sources, and to consider saving money from your job to help pay for the course. Past students have made appeals to friends, family, and colleagues to sponsor them for every mile they hiked, paddled, or pedaled.

Federal Financial Aid:

If you are already receiving financial aid, you may be able to use it to cover the cost of WRFI tuition and other course expenses. A popular option for students who receive Pell grants, Stafford loans or guaranteed student loans at their school is to obtain a "Consortium Agreement." A Consortium Agreement will transfer financial aid from your home institution to cover tuition for WRFI courses. Contact your financial aid office or the WRFI office for details.