SCMA Scholarship
2023 Scholarship
Application Deadline is June 30, 2023!
The South Carolina Mitigation Association (SCMA) formed in 2013 to promote an active and efficient mitigation marketplace that supports ecological function and economic development within the State. Our mission is achieved through participation by industry professionals, including mitigation bankers, environmental consultants, engineers, and contractors, and in collaboration with regulatory agencies and conservation organizations.
A minimum of two awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 will be awarded to eligible individuals currently engaged in education related to ecological restoration or mitigation. Eligible individuals include undergraduate students, preferably juniors and seniors, and graduate students at a college or university in South Carolina pursuing studies or
conducting research related to ecosystem restoration or mitigation.
The SCMA Scholarship Committee will evaluate applicants based on the following criteria: prior academic performance, recommendations from instructors and/or others who have knowledge of the applicant’s capabilities, additional information regarding the applicant’s career, and academic and other relevant experiences or aspirations. Criteria may also include the applicant’s place of residence, past or future attendance at a school within the state of
South Carolina, past or proposed course of study or evidence of his or her interest in pursuing a career in mitigation.
To apply, please compile the items in the application checklist and send to the SCMA. Be sure to include a description of your current education, research, and/or career goals as they relate to ecological restoration or ecological mitigation. As part of your application package, also include current unofficial transcripts and two letters of recommendation. All items must be submitted by the deadline for the application to be complete. Only complete applications will be considered by the SCMA Scholarship Grant Selection Committee.
Click here for the application check list.
Return the complete application to:
Email (Preferred): info@scmitigation.org
With subject line: SCMA 2023 Scholarship Application [Your Name]
-or-
Mail: PO Box 1763 | Columbia, SC 29202
Fax: (803) 252-0589
Scholarship awards will be announced by August 1, 2023.
2022 SCMA Scholarship Awardees
Jessica Clark
Jessica Clark is a master's student at Clemson University in the Department of Forestry and Conservation. Her thesis research is in wetland ecology and focuses on comparing the vegetative community and soil profile of two wetlands two years post-restoration. In 2020, she completed a B.S. in Biology at the University of South Carolina- Columbia, where she was involved in researching the effects of radiation on large mammalian populations in Chernobyl and Fukushima. After graduation, Jessica hopes to pursue a career in wetland and stream restoration for a government agency or a firm. Jessica currently lives in Greenville, SC, with her boyfriend, Jorden, her two cats, and blue heeler, Frankie. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, crocheting, and mountain biking in the Pisgah National Forest.
Ansley Williamson
Ansley Williamson is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the College of Charleston in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. Her research with Dr. Daniel McGlinn focuses on songbird and anuran (frogs and toads) biodiversity in ephemeral wetlands. Ephemeral wetlands are seasonally inundated wetlands and have been overlooked by policy and management schemes because it is unclear if these areas are ecologically unique and important. The purpose of the study is to characterize the soundscape of ephemeral wetlands so that a clearer understanding of their optimal management and monitoring can be developed. The soundscape will be characterized using acoustic recorders and artificial intelligence algorithms to identify species occurrences in the recordings. Throughout her career, she has aspired to apply her knowledge of conservation to restore ecological communities and apply critical thinking methods to manage biodiversity.