The Illinois Lake Management Association is seeking applicants for our scholarship programs and Student Posters/Presenters. We have three different scholarships available for both undergraduate, graduate and PhD students. Values range from $500 to $1000.
Below is a link to our website in the grants section for more information as well. Please pass this information on to any students you feel may be qualified.
https://ilma-lakes.org/
Scholarships Announcements
For Students attending an Illinois college or university or, Any Illinois resident attending college
or university in Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, or Wisconsin.
Funding Sources
The Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship is supported by the membership of ILMA through the
donations received from the bucket raffle and boat raffle at the annual conference
Mr. Robert Esser. long-standing member of ILMA, and lake monitoring volunteer, is sole sponsor of
the Robert Esser Student Achievement Scholarship.
The ILM Research Scholarship is funded by the ecological restoration company ILM, headquartered in
Waukegan Illinois. Research projects should focus on new advances in the science and practice of
ecological restoration in wetlands, streams, ponds, and lakes including the study of invasive species and
nuisance aquatic plant management.
Who's Eligible to Apply?
Illinois Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship ($1,000):
Full time undergraduate or graduate students who have a college or university cumulative GPA
of at least 2.5 on an undergraduate 4.0 scale and 3.0 on a graduate 4.0 scale, enrolled in a
natural resource discipline related to lake and/or watershed management. Eligible applicants
include Illinois residents enrolled in accredited colleges and universities within the above listed
six states and/ or students enrolled in an accredited Illinois college or university. Emphasis will
be placed on scholarship money going towards work or project related expenses in a lake /
watershed area.
Robert Esser Student Achievement Scholarship ($500):
Illinois resident attending an Illinois accredited college or university. A full time junior or senior
undergraduate student or graduate student is preferred. Attendance at the Annual Meeting of
the Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA) is strongly encouraged. Student must be
enrolled in a lake-related curriculum with clearly articulated personal goals and objectives
geared toward Illinois lakes. Emphasis will be placed on volunteer experiences.
The ILM Research Scholarship ($500):
Illinois resident attending an Illinois college or university, or one of the five Midwest universities
mentioned above. A full time junior or senior undergraduate student or graduate student is
preferred. Student will be required to send quarterly updates on their research project to ILM
and will be invited to present their findings to ILM staff if logistically appropriate. Attendance at
the Annual Meeting of the Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA) is strongly encouraged.
Student must be enrolled in a science curriculum with an emphasis on ecology or natural areas
management.
What are the Primary Selection Criteria?
The ILMA Scholarship Committee will consider academic achievement, major field of study,
statement of career goals and student special interests. Most awards are given on the basis of
academic achievement combined with a course of study consistent with our mission.
Notification and Disbursement of Awards
The ILMA Scholarship Committee meets in January of each year to review the applications and
determine the awards. All applicants will be notified by February 1st as to the committee’s final
decision. Scholarship funds are provided to the recipient to offset the tuition and fee expenses
for the appropriate semester(s) and/or approved research project
expenses.
What’s my deadline to get the application in?
Applicant must submit the Scholarship application forms to meet the deadline date of December
31. Application forms can be obtained from the ILMA web site or by contacting the Illinois Lake
Management Association at 1-800-338-6976 (Access Code 01).
P. O. Box 20655, Springfield, IL 62708
How the application process works:
The student completes this application and returns it and all supporting materials by the due
date, to the address listed above. Late applications will not be considered. Once the application
is received, the Illinois Lake Management Association will:
Send a letter confirming application receipt within 10 days of the application deadline, and
Provide a timetable for the review process and award notification.
Before sending this application did you:
• Properly complete the application?
• sign the application form?
• attach or forward the necessary (2) letters of recommendation?
• attach or forward the required “Official Transcripts”, and consider submitting your research
ABSTRACT for the ILMA newsletter
• Include a project description, budget, and description of how the scholarship money will be
spent?
Send the completed application and all supporting materials by December 31st to:
Illinois Lake Management Association
P.O. Box 20655
Springfield, IL 62708
