National Waste & Recycling Foundation Scholarships
The National Waste & Recycling Foundation has established a scholarship program for current member company employees or their dependents who plan to continue their education in college.
National Waste & Recycling Foundation Scholarships
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 to the National Waste & Recycling Foundation Scholarships must:
- Be a full- or part-time NWRA member company employee OR the dependent* child, age 26 and under, of a full-time NWRA member company employee.
*Dependent children are defined as biological, step- or legally adopted children living in the employee’s household or primarily supported by the employee. - Plan to enroll in full- or part-time undergraduate study in a program that the applicant can apply to the waste and recycling industry at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
- Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).
Awards
Up to 13 awards will be granted and distributed as follows:
Darrell and Andrea Chambliss Family Scholarship: Up to $20,000 will be distributed between up to three (3) awards with individual award amounts determined by the sponsor. These scholarships are funded through an endowment established by Waste Connections US, Inc.
The three scholarships will be:
- One (1) for Safety and Compliance — recognizing excellence and focus in safety and regulatory practices.
- This scholarship recognizes students striving to make waste and recycling operations safer, healthier, and more compliant for our industry’s employees, customers, and communities.
- Safety and compliance work spans far beyond “safety” majors and can include preventing injuries, reducing fire risk, improving training and human factors, strengthening environmental compliance systems, and turning complex rules into practical procedures that work in the field.
- Focus areas might include occupational safety and health, environmental compliance, risk management, emergency preparedness, industrial operations, human factors/ergonomics, training and behavior-based safety, regulatory policy, auditing, or safety communications.
- One (1) for Technological Advancement — recognizing excellence and focus in advancing technology and innovation in the field.
- This scholarship recognizes students striving to apply technology and innovation to improve how waste and recycling is collected, processed, recycled, and managed.
- “Technology” in our industry includes equipment and vehicle systems, robotics and automation, sensors and controls, data and analytics, material identification, fire detection and prevention, emissions monitoring, and process improvements that increase efficiency and sustainability.
- Innovation may relate to advances in handling municipal solid waste, construction and demolition materials, industrial waste streams, and other parts of the solid waste system.
- Focus areas might include engineering design, software, AI/data science, advanced manufacturing, materials science, chemistry, environmental engineering, facility optimization, lifecycle analysis, or applied research that advances waste and recycling practices.
- One (1) for Leadership Development — recognizing excellence and focus in future leaders committed to improvement and growth within our industry.
- This scholarship recognizes students building the leadership skills needed to strengthen the waste and recycling workforce and drive progress across organizations and communities. Leadership in our industry shows up in many roles: operations, safety, customer service, communications, policy, HR, finance, sustainability, and team management.
- We welcome applicants who demonstrate initiative, integrity, and the ability to bring people together to solve real problems.
- Focus areas might include business administration/management, organizational leadership/leadership studies, organizational psychology and public administration.
NWRA Women’s Council Scholarship:
Up to eight (8) scholarships will be awarded. Individual award amounts will be determined by the sponsor.
This scholarship supports students pursuing educational opportunities that can help shape the future of the waste and recycling industry. It is intended to encourage leadership, growth, and professional development among NWRA member employees and their families.
Micky & Ellen Flood Scholarship:
Up to two (2) scholarships will be awarded. Individual award amounts will be determined by the sponsor.
This scholarship recognizes applicants who show strong promise for a future in the waste and recycling industry. Preference will be given to those who demonstrate potential to continue in and make meaningful contributions to the industry through their education and career goals.
Awards are not renewable; however, students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.
Notification
All applicants will be notified in June.
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.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of the National Waste & Recycling Foundation. Payment is made in August.
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
- An online recommendation
All eligible applicants will be sent as finalists by Scholarship America to the National Waste & Recycling Foundation. The National Waste & Recycling Foundation will select recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.
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.
NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.
One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than three business days after the application deadline date.
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
