National Hydropower Association Past Chairs’ Legacy Scholarship
If you’re a college sophomore, junior, or senior who will be pursuing a program of study related to the hydropower industry as an undergraduate or graduate student in academic year 2026-27, you may be eligible for the $2,500 National Hydropower Association (NHA) Past Chairs’ Legacy Scholarship.
National Hydropower Association Past Chairs’ Legacy Scholarship
National Hydropower Association created the Past Chairs’ Legacy Scholarship in 2008 to encourage students to consider becoming part of the U.S. hydropower industry. Our growing industry has professionals in many different fields, including engineering, IT, biology, environmental sciences, forestry, hydrology, animal sciences, management, financial services, communications, and other areas. Many companies also offer high-paying skilled labor and technical positions.
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be current college sophomores, juniors or seniors who will be college juniors, seniors or graduate-level students in Fall of 2026.
- Be enrolled in full-time study at an accredited four-year college, two-year college or vocational or technical school.
- Have and maintain a 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale.
- Be United States citizens or legal residents.
- Must be pursuing a program of study approved by NHA that is related to the hydropower industry. A list of approved programs of study is listed below.
High school seniors are not eligible to apply.
Eligible Programs of Study
- Earth Sciences Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Systems Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Biology
- Fisheries
- Hydrology
- Geology
- Forestry
- Public Relations
- Public Policy
- Public Administration
- Environmental Studies
- Environmental Management
- Renewable Energy
Awards
If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $2,500 award. One award will be granted.
Selection of Recipients
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:
- Academic performance
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
- Work experience
- A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
- Unusual personal or family circumstances
Finalists will be selected by Scholarship America, and the NHA panel will select the recipient.
Financial need is not considered.
Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.
Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.
Notification
All applicants will be notified in April.
Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.
Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address as safe senders in your email contact list.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of NHA. Payment is made in early August.
Requirements
As part of your application, you must upload the following:
- A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
- Student name
- School name
- Grades
- Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
