Eligibility

Rhode Island residents enrolled in, accepted to, or currently applying to, a college or university for an undergraduate or associate degree are eligible.

Students must be pursuing or planning to pursue a degree related to the environment, and be/will be enrolled full time.

Acceptable majors include environmental studies, environmental education, and the environmental sciences (e.g. conservation biology, natural resources, etc.).

If you have any questions about whether your anticipated or declared major is acceptable, or any other concerns about your eligibility, please reach out to us at info@rieea.org. 

2026 Timeline

Application Opens – by Monday, December 1
Application Deadline – Monday, January 26 (before 9pm) 
Letter of Recommendation Due – Wednesday, January 28 (before 5pm)
Interviews with Finalists – Mid-February/early March
Recipients Announced –  early April 
Celebration Dinner – Summer (date tbd) 

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through our online form. Please email us at info@rieea.org well in advance of the deadline if you foresee any problems with submitting an application online. You must complete your own application. Parents, friends, mentors, teachers, etc. cannot complete it for you. You will be asked to provide:

• basic contact information
• a brief statement of need
• a personal statement
• a letter of recommendation from someone who is familiar with you and your environmental studies/work (e.g. a teacher, professor, mentor, supervisor, etc. – this letter cannot be from a parent or guardian)

Applications will be reviewed by a committee and finalists will be invited for interviews (via video call or in person, depending on preference and availability). Click here to view the criteria we will use to help us select our finalists. All applicants will be notified when the selection process is completed.