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NOLS Scholarship Program
Each year NOLS awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to hundreds of students who demonstrate both a real potential to further the school's mission and an inability to attend a course without financial assistance. Funding for scholarships is made possible through the generosity of donors to the NOLS Endowment and the NOLS Annual Fund. NOLS scholarship recipients fall into three broad categories: individual awards, outdoor educators, and local programs.
About half of NOLS' budgeted scholarship funds go to individual scholarships. These scholarships allow us to recognize not only need and merit, but also diversity and inclusion. We believe that inclusion is intrinsically connected to strong leadership and that every individual has unique perspectives and values to contribute. In order to maximize the wealth of diversity we all bring to the field, we seek to incorporate a broad student population.
Educating outdoor leaders has been a priority for NOLS since the school was founded in 1965. This focus allows NOLS to leverage its scholarship efforts in a powerful way by educating teachers, program leaders and land managers.
The final segment of scholarship funds is awarded to individuals who live in areas in which we operate. For example, in Mexico and Chile we conduct Spanish Programs for land managers, educators and guides. Prioritizing students who are local to our course areas strengthens our programs from the ground up.
Apply for a Scholarship
The Decision Process
A committee of representatives from Admissions and Operations makes NOLS scholarship decisions. We evaluate applications by course type: all semester course applicants together, all outdoor educator course applicants together, etc. In this way we're able to reserve money for each area and avoid comparing applicants to others with a different league of experience. Scholarships are the best way to make NOLS' education more accessible.
NOLS Memorial and Named Scholarships
NOLS has established many named or memorial scholarships at the request of supporters. These are endowed or annually funded programs that award scholarships based on specific criteria, or in memory of an individual.
A committee at NOLS reviews all scholarship applications for potential matches with the requirements of these annual and endowed scholarships. We will contact the donors, if required, and inform you if you are awarded these funds.
| Awarded Annually |
| Chris Stanton Memorial Scholarship |
| David E. Perkins Memorial Scholarship - David E. Perkins was an enthusiastic outdoorsman, zealous nature lover and preserver, and passionate humanitarian. The purpose of the David E. Perkins Annual Memorial Scholarship is to provide financial aid for NOLS students with demonstrated merit and financial need to participate in a Leave No Trace Master Educator Course, with preference for courses being run in Yellowstone National Park. |
| DeSo’s Dream: Instructor Course Scholarship |
| DeSo’s Dream: Patagonia Scholarship |
| Dustin & Kristin Yoder Memorial Scholarship |
| Peter Roy Scholarship |
| Shane Nemetz Memorial Scholarship |
| Endowed Scholarships |
| Benton Scholarship - This scholarship is intended to be used as funding for a NOLS course for a qualified student or students from the Chinquapin School in Houston, Texas, or other qualified applicants in the Houston area, or other qualified applicants in Texas. |
| Bernard B. Rinella Jr. Memorial Scholarship |
| Charles H. Davison Memorial Scholarship - Charles became involved with NOLS when he encouraged his teenage son Andrew to attend a NOLS course in 1981 and saw firsthand the positive impact the school made on young lives. First preference will be given to applicants who desire to take a NOLS course, have a family income at or below the national average, and have requested financial aid. |
| Christopher Martinat Memorial Scholarship - In recognition of Chris’s love of nature an the outdoors, this scholarship fully funds the tuition for a month-long NOLS course in the Rocky Mountains, with preference for applicants from Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, or Knollwood, Illinois. |
| Colhoun United World College Scholarship - The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial aid for NOLS students who have demonstrated financial need and merit. Preference will be given to applicants that are currently enrolled at a United World College. |
| Eastside Prep School Scholarship |
| Gordon de Lima Hamilton Memorial |
| Headlands Scholarship - This scholarship is intended for students from the Bay Area, preferably women, who desire to take a course in the Wind River Mountains. |
| Kinship Scholarship |
| Homer Luther Scholarship for Excellence |
| John S. Avant Jr. Memorial - John was a graduate of a Wind River Wilderness Course in 1985. He was a young man who truly enjoyed the outdoors and inspired actions through his quiet ways. This scholarship was established in his memory to provide financial aid for NOLS students with demonstrated merit and financial need. Preference will be given to applicants from Columbus, Georgia, then to applicants from the state of Georgia. |
| John N. Barnes Memorial - John Barnes took a Semester in the Rockies in the fall of 1987. He expressed a great love for the outdoors and a desire to gain the skills necessary to travel safely and responsibly in the backcountry. The purpose of this scholarship will be to provide partial or full annual scholarships for students wishing to take a NOLS course in Wyoming. |
| Koopman Family Endowed Scholarship - The Koopman family has a strong multi-generational relationship with NOLS. The family continues to be active NOLS supporters because, “We feel it is the premier teacher available for outdoor education, and we want to make sure it continues to offer others what we have been lucky enough to enjoy.” This scholarship is offered to help expand financial assistance to qualified physically challenged individuals, their assistants, or others who might not have an opportunity to participate in a NOLS experience. |
| Lawrence S. Huntington Mountaineering Scholarship - The purpose of this scholarship is to provide a partial scholarship to a student wishing to take a NOLS mountaineering course who demonstrates both merit and need. |
| Lisa Evans Endowed Scholarship - The purpose of this scholarship is provide financial aid for NOLS students who have demonstrated financial need and merit. Preference will be given to Instructor Course students. |
| Mark R. Philips Scholarship |
| Patrick J. Clark Memorial Scholarship - This scholarship, in memory of NOLS employee and instructor Patrick Clark, is intended for applicants intending to take a NOLS mountaineering course. |
| Paul Petzoldt Legacy Scholarship |
| Peter Simer Instructor Course Scholarship |
| Philip Otis Memorial Scholarship - This fund recently helped support its 100th student! The scholarship was created in memory of Philip Otis, a two-time NOLS grad who was happiest when in the outdoors. |
| Scott Fischer Memorial Scholarship |
| Tom Walter Memorial Fund |
| Trina & Jess Peterson Scholarship |
| WDL Scholarship |
| Wendy Rogers Memorial Scholarship |
| Regional Endowed Scholarships |
Front Range Scholarship
Houston Area Scholarship
New Mexico Scholarship
New York Scholarship
Teton Petzoldt Scholarship
Puget Sound Scholarship
Wyoming Scholarship |
These scholarships are made possible by NOLS supporters from each listed region, and are intended for applicants from those regions. |
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