Ducks Unlimited National and Conservation Scholarships
Offered by Ducks Unlimited
About This Scholarship
Ducks Unlimited, the wetlands and waterfowl conservation group, gives scholarships each year to graduating high school seniors who have volunteered with DU. The top tier is a single $10,000 National Scholarship, announced at the DU National Convention, and below it sit ten $1,000 Conservation Scholarships. A third tier of fifty $500 Varsity Scholarships comes from the same application.
This is a reward for real conservation work, not a general academic award. A volunteer panel scores applications on a weighted scale that emphasizes DU volunteer history, leadership, and academic achievement. Students who have held roles in a DU Varsity club or chapter, or who volunteer with a local DU community chapter, are the intended applicants.
The essay asks how your outdoor experiences have shaped your understanding of wetlands and wetlands conservation, and what you have done or plan to do with that knowledge. Strong applicants tie the essay to specific DU events, habitat projects, or fundraising work they helped run.
Eligibility
- Graduating high school senior
- Current Ducks Unlimited member
- Demonstrated commitment to wetlands conservation through a DU Varsity club or chapter and/or a local DU community chapter
- Cumulative high school GPA of 2.8 or higher
How To Apply
- Confirm your Ducks Unlimited membership is current
- Gather your high school transcript, your DU member and volunteer history, and a list of service or academic awards
- Request up to three recommendation letters that speak to your DU involvement and commitment to conservation
- Write an essay of up to 500 words on how outdoor experiences shaped your understanding of wetlands conservation and how you have acted or plan to act on it
- Submit the online application through the Apply Now link on ducks.org/scholarship before midnight, March 1, 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate application for the $10,000 National Scholarship?
No. Ducks Unlimited uses one application, and the selection panel assigns National, Conservation, and Varsity awards from the same pool of applicants.
Do I have to be a Ducks Unlimited member?
Yes. The program is open to senior student DU members, and the panel weighs your DU volunteer history heavily.
When are winners notified?
Recipients are notified in the spring, and the national winner is announced at the DU National Convention before the fall semester. Checks are sent to the recipient's school.