JAKES Scholarships
To help the next generation of conservation leaders pursue their education, the NWTF makes more than $500,000 in scholarships available to high school seniors each year. Across the country, NWTF chapters have embraced the scholarship program and have awarded more than $3.6 million to high school seniors since 1999.
Graduating high school seniors who exhibit exceptional performance in all aspects of school, community and outdoor involvement are eligible. Each recipient also must show a commitment to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage. Most local NWTF chapter scholarships are valued at a minimum of $250; state/provincial scholarships are worth at least $1,000; and the national scholarship winner receives up to $10,000.
Selection Process
The selection process for local, state and national scholarships is as follows:
- Local chapters awarding scholarships should provide complete scholarship criteria and application information to schools by mid-September.
- Students must submit their materials to local chapter officers by Jan. 1.
- Local chapters will forward their winner's name to the state chapter president by Feb. 1.
- State officers will forward names of the state winners to NWTF national headquarters by March 1st, where the NWTF scholarship committee will select the national winner.
- Winners may not be notified until their high school award banquet, as many chapters like to surprise the students.
Local chapters may award scholarships past the Jan. 1 deadline. However, local scholarship winners chosen after the deadline will not qualify for the state or national award.
Application Materials for Chapters
Downloadable scholarship application materials are available below. Before delivering the application to schools, please remember to fill out the section on the front of the scholarship application for the name and address of the local chapter officer who should receive completed scholarship applications.
For More Information
To learn more about the scholarship program, contact the scholarship coordinator at the Wild Turkey Center by calling (800) THE-NWTF or emailing scholarshipinfo@nwtf.net.
Application: To download a current scholarship application, click here.
Eligibility Information: To find out if a student qualifies for an NWTF scholarship, click here.
Chapter Judging Form: To download a chapter president judging form, click here.
Chapter Instructions: To download an instruction sheet, click here.
Scholarship Certificate: To download a scholarship certificate to present to winners, click here.
Remarks for Scholarship Presentation : To download formal remarks you can offer at your next scholarship presentation, click one of the links below. Just download the presentation, fill in a few blanks and you will have a prepared speech to announce your chapter's scholarship winner.
Local level | State level
Scholarship Poster: To download a scholarship poster, click here. Simply download the poster, fill in a few blanks and you'll have a poster to promote the NWTF scholarship program at local schools.
