JIM ROBERTS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

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About Jim Roberts 

This page will introduce you to the Jim Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund.  The scholarship was initially announced at the 2008 NAEP Conference in San Diego.  Pledge cards were distributed and NAEP received pledges in the amount of $3,000.  NAEP’s California Chapter (Cal AEP) made the extraordinary offer to match up to the first $10,000 in pledges collected by NAEP during the first year, a dollar for dollar match.  This doubles each pledge received during the first year; therefore, we strongly urge your support now. 

As many of you know, Jim Roberts, a longtime member of NAEP passed away in the fall of 2007 leaving a legacy of leadership and ethical living.  A scholarship committee was formed to flesh out a vehicle that will reflect both Jim Robert’s life and his wishes for NAEP and future environmental professionals.

Jim Roberts was a great leader committed to professionalism and ethics in the environmental field.  In 2008, the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) Board of Directors approved the formation of the Jim Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund to continue Jim’s good work and encourage others to follow in his commitment to the industry.

I met Jim many years ago when serving on the NAEP Board of Directors.  Jim, at that time, was chairperson of the International committee.  I was impressed with his intuitiveness, creative “out of the box” thinking, his sense of humor and, most of all, his commitment to ethics.  He had tremendous expectations for NAEP and its members and was willing to commit a large portion of his time and energy to facilitate the realization of this vision. Jim enjoyed working with other environmental professionals through his NAEP connections and I will always remember him taking copious notes at Board meetings, even though he never forgot anything.  He wrote countless articles and encouraged members to engage in discussions on environmental topics including environmental ethics, a subject to which Jim demonstrated a personal commitment.

Jim was a key member of the team that developed a proposal for AEP, at that time a separate but similar organization in California, to affiliate with NAEP as its California Chapter.  He had been a long-standing member of both organizations and honored by AEP in 1991 with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the environmental profession.  Four years later in 2003, Jim was named a Fellow of NAEP for his lifetime of contributions to the organization.

Jim served as President of NAEP from 1996 until 1998 and Vice-President from 2003-2004.  He also held other leadership roles including:

NAEP International Committee Chair (1994-2007)

NAEP President's Council for Sustainable Success Chair (1997) 

NAEP Ethics Committee Chair (2000 – 2007)

NAEP Parliamentarian (2006 – 2007)

About the Jim Robert’s Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Scholarship Committee has made decisions on several aspects of the award.  It will be awarded annually at the annual NAEP conference to a student currently enrolled in an environmental program at any accredited university or college in the United States, its territories or Canada.  Official applications will be provided on the NAEP website.  

Students supply basic information, transcripts and prepare an essay including their personal reflection on how education will support ethical work on environmental problems.  The applications are evaluated by the Scholarship Committee and one honoree receives an award between $500-$1000, depending on the available endowment.  These awards can be used for education expenses including tuition and books.

The NAEP California Chapter (Cal AEP) has made an extraordinary offer to honor Jim Roberts by matching up to the first $10,000 in pledges collected by NAEP the first year.  This dollar for dollar match makes your contribution double in impact and makes your pledge twice as important to fulfill.  Our goal is to collect $50,000 during the first five years. 

Please send a check to cover your tax-deductible contribution today to:

NAEP

Attn: Jim Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund

PO Box 460

Collingswood, NJ 08108

Donate immediately by credit card by clicking the link below:

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Remember this year your contribution will provide twice as much support to the fund.  We have a goal of growing the fund’s endowment to $50,000 in the next five years.  Jim Roberts provided a commitment to develop this organization, to advance our profession, to improve our ethics and the environmental industry and most importantly, to assist young people in pursuing an environmental career.  It is now time to honor Jim Robert’s commitment by providing this scholarship to aspiring environmental professionals.

Thank you for your generosity,

Gary F. Kelman, Chair

Jim Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund

National Association of Environmental Professionals

Committee Members:

Cynthia Fridgen

Bruce Hasbrouck

Teri Hasbrouck

John Perkins

Mel Willis