This is a competitive scholarship awarded to high school graduates, college undergraduates and graduate students majoring in forestry, wildlife or marine science. Recipients must attain a degree in one of the three eligible fields at a Louisiana public college/university or repay the funds, plus interest. The annual award is $1,000, with a cumulative maximum award of $7,000 for up to five years of undergraduate and two years of graduate study. Recipients receive $500 each fall and spring term, provided that eligibility is maintained and sufficient program funds are available. Failure to maintain eligibility will result in cancellation of the scholarship and repayment of all funds received, plus interest. Each year about 30 new applicants are selected for award based upon their merit score ranking. Annually, some 60 students (new and renewal recipients) receive awards totaling $60,000 in state dedicated funds. Eligibility criteria are listed below:
- Be a U.S. citizen or national or eligible non-citizen and be registered with Selective Service if required; and
- Be a Louisiana resident for at least one year prior to July 1 of the scholarship award year; and
- Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to the annual deadline (July 1). All new applicants for the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship must apply for federal grant aid by submitting the FAFSA so that it is received no later than July 1 immediately preceding the academic year (college) for which the scholarship is sought. For example, if the student wants to apply for a Rockefeller Scholarship to be awarded during the 2008-2009 academic year (college), submit the 2008-2009 version of the FAFSA no later than July 1, 2008; and
- Complete and submit such documentary evidence as required by LASFAC; and
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in a Louisiana public college or university majoring in forestry, wildlife or marine science with the intent of obtaining a degree in one of those fields; and
- Have graduated from an accredited high school with at least a 2.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and have taken the ACT and achieved a score of at least 20 or an equivalent score on the SAT; or
- Have completed the 12th grade level of a home study program approved by BESE and, if at the time of application earned less than 24 hours of graded college credit, achieved an ACT score of at least 22 or an equivalent score on the SAT; and if a high school was previously attended, provide certification that the student was in good standing at the time the student last attended; or
- Have earned 24 or more graded college credit hours and have at least a 2.50 cumulative college GPA as an undergraduate student; or,
- As a graduate student have at least a 3.00 cumulative college GPA on all credits earned in graduate school.
If you meet the eligibility criteria outlined
above and would like to apply for the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship,
you should complete and submit the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship Application
and Master Promissory Note so that it is received by LOSFA no later than July
1 immediately before the academic year you wish to be considered. If your
Application and Master Promissory Note is not received by the July 1 deadline,
but is received by December 1, you may be eligible for the next spring semester,
if funds are available. Applications may be downloaded at http://www.osfa.state.la.us/ROCKEFELLER.pdf 
.
Submit the application to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance
(LOSFA) as instructed on the application. If you have earned college credit,
you must include with this application an official college transcript that includes
the most recent semester attended. Your application will not be considered
if you do not provide all requested information. For more information,
contact LOSFA at (800) 259-5626, Ext. 1012 or locally at (225) 922-3258.
Awarded students may continue to receive
the award if they :
- Have received the scholarship for not more than
seven academic years (five undergraduate and two graduate); and
- At the close of each academic year (ending with
the spring semester or quarter), have earned at least 24 hours total credit
during the fall, winter and spring terms at an institution defining 12 semester
or eight quarter hours as the minimum for full-time undergraduate status unless
granted an exception for cause by LASFAC; or
- At the close of each academic year (ending with
the spring semester or quarter), have earned at least 18 hours total credit
during the fall, winter and spring terms at an institution defining nine semester
hours as the minimum for full-time graduate status unless granted an exception
for cause by LASFAC.
- By the end of the academic year (spring term),
have earned at least 24 hours of earned credits during the fall, winter and
spring terms at a school defining 12 semester or eight quarter hours as the
minimum for full-time undergraduate status, or earn at least 18 hours total
credit during the fall, winter and spring terms at a school defining nine
semester hours as a minimum for full-time graduate status; and
- Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 as
an undergraduate student at the end of each academic year or achieve a cumulative
grade point average of at least 3.00 as a graduate student at the end of each
academic year; and
- Maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time
student unless granted an exception by LASFAC; and
- Continue to pursue a course of study leading
to an undergraduate or graduate degree in wildlife, forestry or marine science.
Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship Questions and Answers
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