The James River Soil and Water Conservation District is pleased to announce a new scholarship opportunity open to high school seniors living in the counties of Chesterfield and Prince George. The Donald A. Bagshaw Memorial Scholarships' goal, is to promote the higher education of our community in fields emphasizing natural resource conservation, agriculture, or environmental studies. The James River SWCD will provide one $1,500 scholarship to a student whose interests align with our mission to promote the stewardship of our environment. A check will be issued directly to the selected institution of higher education on behalf of the student. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is June 14, 2024 by 8 PM.

Donald (Don) Bagshaw served the James River Soil and Water Conservation District and the citizens of Prince George and Chesterfield from 2003-2020. During his many years of service, Don served as Chairman and Treasurer and leaves behind the legacy of community engagement and environmental stewardship. His willingness to lend a hand or ear and hear his constituent's needs strengthened his everlasting reach in the Soil and Water world. Don's background as a Dairy Herdsman at Penn State and the Operations Superintendent at the American Water Company, Hopewell District, gave invaluable experience to the James River SWCD Board. We hope to extend Don's legacy with this scholarship and give back to our community that he so cared for.    

Eligibility:
Applicant must be a high school senior

• Applicant must be residents of Chesterfield or Prince George County
• Applicant plans to enroll in college and pursue education in the fields of agriculture, natural resource conservation, and/or environmental studies
• Applicant must have a 3.0 or higher GPA

How to Apply:

• Complete this application form
• Submit a 300-500 word essay on why you are interested in pursuing an education in the fields of agriculture, natural resource conservation, environmental studies, or other relevant field.
• Submit an official school transcript along with your application
• Submit one letter of recommendation

You can either apply by submitting this google form and sending the essay, recommendation, and transcripts to the email address jrswcd@princegeorgecountyva.gov or print this form out and submit paper copies of all required documents to P.O. Box 129 Prince George, VA 23875.