Scholarship and Grant Opportunities
All scholarships have been awarded for the fall of 2023. The next round of submissions will open in the Spring of 2024.
Dr. Paul Nelson Memorial Scholarship
The Dr. Paul Nelson Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a student-climber who exemplifies the passion that defined Paul’s life and contributions to the New River Gorge region.
The selected student will be asked to create and present a project to help others learn about and care for the important outdoor recreational resources available in the New River Gorge National Park and the surrounding region.
The selected student will be asked to create and present a project to help others learn about and care for the important outdoor recreational resources available in the New River Gorge National Park and the surrounding region.
To get a better sense of what a great human, friend, and artist that Paul was, we encourage each candidate to read the memorial article published in Climbing magazine, click here.
DETAILS:
Amount Awarded: $1,000
Application Deadline: June 1st, 2024
**Applications will be accepted in the Spring of 2024- Date TBD
CRITERIA:
RECIPENT REQUEST:
We are requesting that the recipient of this scholarship prepare a project and/or presentation that will help others learn about and care for the important outdoor recreational resources available in the New River Gorge.
Examples of potential projects include: presentations at a local climbing or university gym, photo essays of Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, or a published letter to the Editor of a local newspaper.
We encourage each applicant to use their imagination regarding methods of outreach.
We are hopeful this can be done in conjunction with the New River Alliance of Climbers.
We believe this project will help carry on Paul’s legacy.
Amount Awarded: $1,000
Application Deadline: June 1st, 2024
**Applications will be accepted in the Spring of 2024- Date TBD
CRITERIA:
- Student must be a climber who regularly visits the New River Gorge National Park and associated climbing areas (Meadow River Gorge, Summersville Lake).
- Student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (please include a copy of your transcript or grade report).
- Student must be a United States citizen or resident alien.
- Student must be enrolled on a full-time basis as an undergraduate or full/part-time basis as a graduate student. Preference will be given to students with history, music, teaching, or outdoor recreation majors, although all disciplines will be considered.
RECIPENT REQUEST:
We are requesting that the recipient of this scholarship prepare a project and/or presentation that will help others learn about and care for the important outdoor recreational resources available in the New River Gorge.
Examples of potential projects include: presentations at a local climbing or university gym, photo essays of Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, or a published letter to the Editor of a local newspaper.
We encourage each applicant to use their imagination regarding methods of outreach.
We are hopeful this can be done in conjunction with the New River Alliance of Climbers.
We believe this project will help carry on Paul’s legacy.
HOW TO APPLY:
**NRAC will begin the next round of accepting applications in the Spring of 2024! Join our Newsletter to stay informed on the dates. Please do not submit an application prior to NRAC's Spring scholarship announcements.
Applicants may complete this form by hand or, preferably, use it as a template for emailed applications.
Completed applications must be signed and postmarked or emailed to the New River Alliance of Climbers by June 1st, 2024 to the address and/or email listed below.
Any application postmarked after that date will not be considered.
Recipients of the scholarship will be notified by August 1st, 2024.
New River Alliance of Climbers
RE: Dr. Paul Nelson Memorial Scholarship
PO Box 145
Fayetteville, WV 25840
NRACscholarships@gmail.com
**NRAC will begin the next round of accepting applications in the Spring of 2024! Join our Newsletter to stay informed on the dates. Please do not submit an application prior to NRAC's Spring scholarship announcements.
Applicants may complete this form by hand or, preferably, use it as a template for emailed applications.
Completed applications must be signed and postmarked or emailed to the New River Alliance of Climbers by June 1st, 2024 to the address and/or email listed below.
Any application postmarked after that date will not be considered.
Recipients of the scholarship will be notified by August 1st, 2024.
New River Alliance of Climbers
RE: Dr. Paul Nelson Memorial Scholarship
PO Box 145
Fayetteville, WV 25840
NRACscholarships@gmail.com
Diversity in Climbing GrantSupport for any BIPOC individuals who aim to create a more diverse, equitable, or inclusive New River Gorge climbing community.
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Diversity in Climbing Grant
NRAC’s annual Diversity in Guiding Grant has partnered with Climbing for Change for the past two years to award two BIPOC recipients the funds needed to obtain their AMGA Single Pitch Instructor certification.
This year, those funds are available to BIPOC climbers through the new and improved Diversity in Climbing Grant!
DETAILS:
Amount Awarded: a total of $3,600 (amount will be divided amongst applicants.)
Application Deadline: June 1st, 2024
**Applications will be accepted in the Spring of 2024- Date TBD
CRITERIA:
Funds will be awarded to any BIPOC-led local or regional diversity, equity, and inclusion work or project.
Examples of proposals include:
HOW TO APPLY:
**NRAC will begin the next round of accepting applications in the Spring of 2024! Join our Newsletter to stay informed on the dates. Please do not submit an application prior to NRAC's Spring scholarship announcements.
Please submit your project proposal and application through the Climbing For Change webpage, here.
Based on the number of project proposals and the distribution of costs, there could be more or less than two recipients.
Questions? Please email Elena at elena@newriverclimbing.net.
This year, those funds are available to BIPOC climbers through the new and improved Diversity in Climbing Grant!
DETAILS:
Amount Awarded: a total of $3,600 (amount will be divided amongst applicants.)
Application Deadline: June 1st, 2024
**Applications will be accepted in the Spring of 2024- Date TBD
CRITERIA:
Funds will be awarded to any BIPOC-led local or regional diversity, equity, and inclusion work or project.
Examples of proposals include:
- Certification (you can still get your SPI with this grant!)
- Educational training
- Affinity group outing/meet-up
- BIPOC-led event
- Photo/video project
- Start-up costs for non-profit work or a BIPOC-owned climbing-related business
HOW TO APPLY:
**NRAC will begin the next round of accepting applications in the Spring of 2024! Join our Newsletter to stay informed on the dates. Please do not submit an application prior to NRAC's Spring scholarship announcements.
Please submit your project proposal and application through the Climbing For Change webpage, here.
Based on the number of project proposals and the distribution of costs, there could be more or less than two recipients.
Questions? Please email Elena at elena@newriverclimbing.net.