Scholarships

CU Boulder Scholarships

The CU Boulder Scholarship Application is available year-round offering a wide range of scholarship and funding opportunities to our students. This includes donations from private individuals, corporations, foundations, and the University of Colorado. While the donors specify the award criteria, the selection of recipients is made by the approprate college or department. Any scholarship that has financial need as criteria for eligibility also requires a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Visit the CU Boulder Scholarship page for detailed instructions, tips, and applications.

Environmental Studies Scholarship

Continuing students can access the scholarship application through BuffPortal under the Financial Aid tab. You will be prompted to complete the general application once you log in. This application is used for multiple scholarships and requires information about extracurricular activities, community service, work and an essay.  For information on accessing the CU Boulder Scholarship Application, consult the Guide to the Scholarship Application for Continuing Students.

Unless otherwise indicated below, eligibility criteria for the following scholarships in the Department of Environmental Studies include: 

• Students must have declared ENVS as their major
• Students must have a GPA of at least 2.5
• Students must be enrolled full-time

In order to apply for these scholarships, students should submit the CU Boulder Scholarship application and complete the supplemental question. Students who apply by the deadline will be considered for the following available scholarships to be awarded late in the Spring Semester.  Graduating seniors are eligible to apply. 

Kim R. Wickholm Scholarship 

Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Wickholm established the fund in memory of their son, Kim Wickholm a 1976 graduate in Environmental Conservation.  

Award criteria: Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic performance.  Financial need will be considered in cases of equally qualified applicants. 

Ruthann H. LeBaron Scholarship

Ruthann H. LeBaron graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1946 with a degree in Biology. Ms. LeBaron had such great ambition, she finished her degree in only two and two thirds years, and actually had taken enough classes, although not for credit, to earn a Philosophy degree as well. Ms. LeBaron was also involved with the campus yearbook, newspaper and her sorority. After graduation, she went on to Mount Holyoke College to pursue an advanced degree followed by further graduate study at Stanford. Ms. LeBaron went on to become Professor and Department Chair of Science at the College of Southern Idaho and later a professor at Linfield College, where she teaches shoreline ecology. Ms. LeBaron' s background, love for CU and commitment to preserving our environment led her to establishing this trust which will fund the world's future environmentalists' education.

Award criteria: Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic performance. Financial need will be considered in cases of equally qualified applicants. Awardees must have a GPA of at least 3.0.

Joseph "Joey" Herrin Endowed Memorial Scholarship

From a young age, Joey Herrin cultivated a love of nature while hiking, camping, rock climbing and biking in Texas. After high school, he traveled across the country, visiting over 40 national parks and working at farms, parks, and outdoor ventures, also attending a semester with NOLS in Patagonia. He landed in Colorado and started college at the age of 28, while working park maintenance at a local park system. His stewardship extended beyond the environment to his friendships, relationships and pets and he was known for his acts of kindness.

Attending CU Boulder was a high point, as he immersed himself in learning as much as he could, both in and out of the classroom. As he enrolled during the pandemic, he was delighted when he finally got to attend in-person and meet his professors. When he first enrolled in college, he told us that he just wanted to make a difference. And so he did. The purpose of this scholarship is to always “make a difference”, for the environment and for students like Joey. To learn more about Joey: https://www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2023/10/12/nature-was-his-classroom

Award criteria: Preference will be given to non-traditional students who are “returning” to the University. In cases of equally qualified applicants, a) demonstration of the student’s environmental interests including information on how they wish to pursue a career in this field and b) financial need will be considered.

Kristen Elizabeth Lyell Scholarship

Kristin Elizabeth Lyell (known as "Krunch" to her family and friends) was born December 12, 1968 in Nashville, TN and grew up in that area. She loved people, all sorts of animals and loved to travel. Krunch attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for two years, studied abroad for another year at the University of Manchester in England and then transferred to the University of Colorado at Boulder. She transferred to CU because of her growing interest in the environment and the outdoors. Once she got to CU, she quickly became an environmental activist and decided to change her major from political science to environmental science. 

On December 28, 1991, one week after graduation from CU, Krunch was killed in an automobile accident. The family established this scholarship in her memory.

"Krunch definitely left her mark on this Earth, which is one reason our family wanted to start a fund through her estate. We hope and believe that the recipients of this scholarship will strive to make their mark through community service, academic work and daily life.  Through this scholarship we hope to continue her efforts." -The Lyell Family

Award criteria: Demonstrated financial need. Demonstration of the student’s environmental interests including information on how they wish to pursue a career in this field. Female students are especially encouraged to apply for scholarship awards from this Fund; however, an applicant’s gender identity will not be considered a factor in the selection process.

Rocky Mountain Community Bridge Scholarship

The Environmental Studies department is happy to receive donations in order to provide scholarship support for non-traditional and underrepresented students from the Rocky Mountain Region who are enrolled in the Environmental Studies major. Various donations will allow for the department to award scholarship funds to students beginning Spring 2025 and continuing each year.

Award criteria: Undergraduate students from the Rocky Mountain Region (within 600 miles of Boulder, CO), who've declared the ENVS major. Students may be enrolled less than full-time and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Non-traditional students including: First-generation college students, community or other college transfers, First Nation students, older students, veterans, and students with children or other family members under their care are encouraged to apply. 

*To provide support for non-traditional students from the Rocky Mountain Region in Environmental Studies, please include "Rocky Mountain Community Bridge (RMCB)" in the Giving Comments when you donate to the Environmental Studies Undergraduate Scholarship Fund on the "Donate" page.