2025 SCHOLARSHIP information

This $500 scholarship is for an individual interested in beekeeping, who is pursuing further education by attending college, technical school, or school of trade within the same year of application.  Applicants can be a senior in High School or a High School Graduate of any age.  Selection preference is on candidates that live in the five Pennsylvania counties NWPBA serves, including Warren, Erie, Crawford, Venango, and Mercer. 

The Applicant must email the below requirements to nwpabees@gmail.com by August 1st, 2025.

The Scholarship Committee of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association will review all

applicant materials to determine the ranking of applicants. The number of scholarships awarded in any

given year is at the discretion of the NWPBA Board of Directors. Decisions made by NWPBA are final.

Applicants may apply again with a new essay if not selected, but may receive the NWPBA scholarship

only once. The winner is expected to come in person to a designated NWPBA membership meeting to

accept the award.  Accommodations can be made if the recipient cannot attend in person.

Application Requirements:

1. Submit a competed cover letter with the following information:

•  contact information (name, phone, email, address)
•  high school and graduation year
•  intended college/trade school name, and location, along with anticipated start date
•  plans for future, major interests, community activities, accomplishments
•  description of Beekeeper Connection, how/where you met (see Requirement #3)
•  describe personal beekeeping experience and plans (if any)

2. Submit an electronic essay with title, name, phone number, and email at top. Essay should be no less

than 500 words and no more than 1000 words on one of the following subjects:

•  What do honey bees mean to me
•  Why are honey bees important in Warren, Erie, Crawford, Venango, and Mercer Counties
•  Explain the foraging behaviors of the honey bee (hint-types of foraging, dance, etc)
•  Describe the life cycle of the honey bee, both individually and colony-wide (hint-swarming)

3. Applicant will need to have a beekeeper fill out the Beekeeper Connection Form. This form verifies that the Applicant has at least met with a beekeeper to discuss beekeeping, and preferably has visited an apiary, worked a colony, attended a beekeeping event, etc. This form is required even if  the Applicant is a beekeeper.

Send cover letter, essay, and Beekeeper Connection Form to nwpabees@gmail.com (scanning/photo of

Connection Form must be clear and easy to read).

All applications should be in no later than August 1st.