Scholarships

Through the generosity of several donors, wilderness studies scholarships have been established in memory of Gary, Keith, and Eva Jean Worf, Jacques Manonian, and Benjamin Cohen. These scholarships provide financial assistance to Wilderness and Civilization students focusing on wilderness studies and wilderness stewardship at the University of Montana.

To apply please complete the general scholarship application form in addition to the requirements for each scholarship. For more information please contact the Wilderness Institute.

General Application Form
Cohen Application Form
Worf Application Form

Jacques Manonian Memorial Wilderness Scholarship

Friends of Jacques Manonian established this Endowment in his memory following his death in 1999 from pancreatic cancer. Jacques graduated from the Wilderness and Civilization program in 1983 and was well loved by fellow students and faculty for his vitality, health and free spirit. Jacques was an avid outdoors person and an accomplished athlete. He was always found with a windsurfer, skis, surfboard, or mountain bike and along side a loving, caring friend. Jacques moved to Whitefish in 1991 and became a partner in ski shop called Snowfrog. In 1996 he sold his share in the shop to travel and then live between Martha's Vineyard and Hawaii where he began a life of surfing year-round. Throughout his life and travels Jacques carried his Wilderness and Civilization experience with him as an avid conservationist with a love for the natural world. Manonian Scholarships are awarded to students with an interest in wilderness stewardship and a passion for the value of the backcountry. Native American and Montanan applicants are preferred. Awards up to $2000 per year (Individual awards range from $1000 to $2000). Applications are due May 6, 2013.

Benjamin Rosenberg Cohen Scholarship

The Benjamin Rosenberg Cohen Scholarship was established in 2002 in loving memory of Ben Cohen by his wife, Connie Cohen. Ben contributed tremendously to the state of Montana. After taking forestry and geology courses at The University of Montana, Ben worked both as a wilderness guard in the Bitterroot National Forest and as an engineer for the Forest Service in Whitefish. While in Whitefish, Ben was elected to the state House of Representatives and served four terms from 1984 to 1992. In his first term he carried the oppositional phosphate ban. In addition, Ben owned, operated, and "grew" North Valley Refuge for twenty years, where he pioneered curbside co-collection of trash and recyclables in the Flathead Valley. Ben loved the outdoors-to ski, swim, hike, and play soccer and rugby. He also loved to sit in the sun and read, to build his and Connie's home, and to tend his organic vegetable garden. Ben contributed with great generosity to Montana, his community, and his family. The Cohen scholarship is available to an incoming Wilderness and Civilization student with demonstrated academic ability. The award is for up to $700 per year. Applications are due May 6, 2013.

Worf Family Memorial Wilderness Scholarship

The Gary and Keith Worf Memorial Wilderness Scholarship was established in 1996 by William and Eva Jean Worf in honor of their sons, Gary and Keith Worf. Eva and William described the endowment "as a perpetual legacy to the American people in loving memory of our sons Gary and Keith. It will aid in securing the integrity of the National Wilderness Preservation System by encouraging the education of professional wilderness stewards. Both Gary and Keith held a deep respect for nature in general and wilderness in particular." The sons died in separate accidents--Gary in 1980 and Keith in 1993. Eva Jean passed away in 2006 and is now honored in this memorial scholarship. William Worf graduated from the University of Montana School of Forestry in 1950. He is a founder and current president of Wilderness Watch, a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of America's Wilderness and wild and scenic rivers. This scholarship is available to incoming, current, and former undergraduate students in the Wilderness and Civilization program who are majors in the College of Forestry and Conservation. This award is for up to $600 per year. Applications are due April 18, 2013.