Jim Roberts Scholarship

Requirements  |  Apply  |  Donate  |  Past Winners

About the Scholarship’s Origin

Long-time NAEP member, Jim Roberts, passed away in November 2007. To memorialize his contributions to NAEP and the environmental profession in general, a group of his friends and associates convened at the 2008 NAEP Annual Conference in San Diego, California and formed the Jim Roberts Memorial Scholarship Committee. This scholarship is the result of the work of that committee.

Applications for the 2025 Jim Robert's Scholarship were due February 28, 2025. Thank you to those who applied.

Jim was an early member of the NAEP and served as NAEP President from 1996‒1998 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)

Jim 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. He always stated that you have to participate in the profession in order to benefit the most from it. 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 the Association of Environmental Professionals, 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 was 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. 

Submission Requirements

Members and non-members of NAEP may submit an application. Applicants must be enrolled in an environmental program at an accredited university or college in the United States, its territories, or Canada.

Complete the online Jim Roberts Scholarship form and provide all required documents before February 28, 2025 to apply. Any applications without all the required documentation will not be considered.

Applicant Contact Information

• Applicant Full Name
• Mailing address, phone number, and email address for Applicant
• Enrollment status, degree program, and expected date of graduation

Required Documents

1. Transcripts: Provide official post high school transcripts for all colleges/universities attended. You can include your transcripts with your application or your College or University can send Official Transcripts directly to the Jim Roberts Scholarship Chair – Chuck Nicholson at [email protected] no later than February 28, 2025.
   
2. Recommendation Letters: Provide at least three recommendation letters from persons familiar with you, your achievements, and your ethical character. 
3. Essay: Include an essay with your application that reflects on how your education and experience to this point supports ethical work on environmental problems. The topic was very important to Jim Roberts; please read the information above on Jim.

*Please gather the above documents and combine them into a single PDF document before uploading it to the application

 Apply for the Jim Roberts Scholarship

We look forward to receiving your completed Jim Roberts Scholarship application. This scholarship is awarded annually to a student currently enrolled in an environmental program at any accredited university or college in the United States, its territories or Canada. All applications and the required materials must be submitted no later than February 28, 2025.

The scholarship winner will receive a $2,000.00 check made payable to the college or university to help with the expenses of furthering his or her education. In addition to that, winners will also receive a pre-paid year-long NAEP Student Membership!

Scholarship applicants will be evaluated on the documentation provided in the application. The winner will be notified in April 2025 and formally announced at the annual NAEP conference. We encourage you to attend the conference.

Donate to the Scholarship Fund

Jim Roberts traveled far and wide to espouse the worth of living an ethical life, including the way you performed your job. He lived the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Environmental Professionals.

NAEP has developed the Jim Roberts Scholarship Fund to assist promising individuals while they are still in school. This is your opportunity to preserve and extend the legacy of Jim Roberts.

All donations are tax-deductible. Please complete the form below to make your contribution. You can also donate when you renew your NAEP membership.

Thank you,
Chuck Nicholson,
Chair, Jim Roberts Scholarship Committee

Donate to the Scholarship Fund

Past Winners