OPENING DOORS TO NATURE
EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
2025-2026 Scholarship application period is open.
Please read the following information carefully before submitting an application. Submission deadline is 11:59 pm Friday August 1, 2025
2025-2026 Opening Doors to Nature Scholarship Program
The Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge announces the Friends of Valle de Oro Opening Doors to Nature Scholarship Program for the 2025-2026 school year. Under the Program this year, the Friends will award scholarships with the minimum individual amount being $500. These scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate college students who are enrolled for the 2025-2026 academic year in an undergraduate conservation/environmental-focused degree or certificate program.
Program Guidelines and Priorities:
Students must meet at least one of the following criteria in order to apply:
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Attended a High School or College within New Mexico and are currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a (2)-year community college or (4)-year college or university in any location. OR
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Attended a High School or College outside of New Mexico but are currently enrolled in a two (2)-year community college or four (4)-year college or university within the state of New Mexico. Undergraduates only.
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Students who are eligible can apply in more than one year, but this Scholarship can be awarded to an individual only one time.
Some preference may be given to applicants who have participated in a Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge or Friends of Valle de Oro NWR project, internship, or program, but this experience is not required.
Completed applications must be received by the Friends of Valle de Oro no later than 11:59 pm Friday August 1, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Applications will be reviewed and award recipients selected by the Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge Scholarship Committee. The scholarship winners will be informed on Monday August 11, 2025.
Requirements of Scholarship Winners
Scholarship winners must show proof of enrollment through the College Advisory Verification Form (shown below) in order to receive the scholarship payment. The College Advisory Verification Form must be signed by your advisor and submitted to the scholarship committee on or before 11:59 pm Friday September 5, 2025.
The Scholarship funds will be paid upon receipt of the College Advisory Verification Form. The award should be applied to tuition or education related materials (books, field or lab equipment, etc.) in the 2025-2026 school year.
Scholarship winners should plan to participate, either in person or virtually, at the September or October 2025 Board Meeting of the Friends of Valle de Oro to meet the board members and say a few words about their academic plan and how the scholarship will help them work toward their educational goals.
Scholarship winners are required to provide short reports on academic progress and use of funds by the following deadlines:
- Mid-Year Report: due by 11:59 pm Friday January 2, 2026
- Final Year-end Report: due by 11:59 pm Friday May 29, 2026
A reminder e-mail will be sent to all winners a week or so prior to the report being due. Your college advisor will be notified if reports are not received on time.
Complete the online application with this Google form (You will need to be logged in to a Google account to access this application):
If you do not have a Google account, you can find information on how to open one here: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/56256?hl=en
If you have any questions about the application or submission process, or if you are unable to complete the application online, please contact Joan Morrison at:
Reminder: Applications must be completed and submitted no later than 11:59 pm Friday, August 1, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
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COLLEGE ADVISORY VERIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT FORM
If you are chosen as a winner of a 2025-2026 Opening Doors to Nature Scholarship, you must have your college advisor complete and submit either this form or a signed letter on official college letterhead verifying your enrollment for the 2025 fall semester in a conservation/environmental-focused degree or certificate program. Either submission must include your advisor’s signature, phone number and email. The form will be sent electronically to all winners. To submit, have your advisor complete this form online, then send it as a Word document or pdf by email to: joan@friendsofvalledeoro.org. Or you can print the form, have your advisor complete it, then scan and send it by email to the same address.
This College Advisory Verification of Enrollment form or signed letter on letterhead is due by 11:59 pm Friday September 5, 2025, in order for scholarship funds to be dispersed.
I hereby affirm that __________________________________________ (scholarship winner) is enrolled in a two-year or four-year college or university for the 2025 fall semester with a planned focus in a conservation/environmental program.
Name of Advisor: _________________________________________________________________
Name of College or University: _______________________________________________________
Advisor Contact information: (e-mail) __________________________________________________
(phone #) ________________________________________________________________________
Signature of College Advisor: _______________________________________ Date_____________
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