Morton A. Mitchell Scholarship

The Morton A. Mitchell Scholarship is open to undergraduate students who will be juniors or seniors next academic year and are pursuing a degree in an area related to wetlands and wildlife conservation. This scholarship was established by the family of Milton Weller, Ph.D., a noted professor and researcher focused on the natural systems needed by wildlife. Morton Mitchell was a high school teacher who provided encouragement and a loan to help Milton Weller start college. Recipients of this scholarship are not required to repay the award but are encouraged to contribute to the fund once they finish a degree and begin working. Click here to read more about Milton Weller, Ph.D.

Student Eligibility
To be eligible, the applicant must:

  • be entering their junior or senior year of college
  • be planning a career related to wetlands conservation or in a field related to one of the following areas of study: Ecology, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Hydrology, Ornithology, Plant Ecology, Soils, Wetlands Conservation, Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Ecology
  • plan to enroll full-time at an accredited, nonprofit, four-year college or university in the United States
  • demonstrate unmet financial need. In general, unmet financial need will be defined as the difference between the cost of attendance and the sum of the student’s grant aid from other sources plus the Student Aid Index (as determined by the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Selection & Evaluation
Applicants will be evaluated based on:

  • essays that articulate passion for the field and explain how their planned major will impact their future career
  • extracurricular involvement, including work experience, related to their major
  • transcript that demonstrates past success and potential degree completion
  • financial need.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please answer all questions that apply to you, even if they are not marked “required.”

Renewal
Recipients will be considered for renewal for up to one additional undergraduate year if a renewal application is submitted in a timely manner and academic and financial eligibility criteria continue to be met. Making satisfactory progress toward a degree, generally defined as a 2.0 grade point average on a 4-point scale (or the equivalent) in 12 or more semester hours (or the equivalent), will be considered academically eligible for renewal but each applicant’s facts and circumstances will be considered. Please note that because the award amounts are based on available funding and financial need that can change from year to year, the amount of this scholarship award may change if a recipient applies for renewal awards in years to come

Notification
Application status will change from submitted to offered or denied in June. Applicants can view their status by logging in to their Scholarship Central account.

Questions? Contact Ellen Vietor, Scholarship Manager at the St. Louis Community Foundation, scholarships@stlgives.org or 314-880-4960.

Eligibility, financial need, and award amount for this scholarship program will be determined by the St. Louis Community Foundation. This scholarship program, as a component fund of the St. Louis Community Foundation, does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, national origin, gender, age, color, sexual orientation, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

Donor
Doris and Milton Weller
Award
$5,000, renewable
Deadline
04/15/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. Before you begin this application, please take a minute to read through the scholarship details. This will allow you to see all the eligibility requirements. Click on the scholarship name that is underlined and in blue ink in the upper left-hand corner to see the details. Check here to indicate you have reviewed the eligibility criteria.
  2. To be considered for this scholarship, your Scholarship Central General Application MUST include your FALL transcript for the current academic year. The transcript should show your name, school, grades, and cumulative GPA. If you previously uploaded an earlier transcript, please upload a new transcript to your General Application and change your answer to the GPA question. If your college choice has changed, please update that on the General Application as well.
  3. List your on-campus and community involvement, professional society involvement, or other extracurricular activities. Include the activity, the time involved, dates of involvement, and position(s) held:
  4. Tell the scholarship review committee about something you accomplished or did of which you are proud. Tell the committee why you are proud about this accomplishment.
  5. Tell us how you became interested in wetlands or wildlife? What significant events or individuals influenced your decision to pursue this course of study?
  6. What are your goals upon completion of your undergraduate degree? Where do you see yourself five years after completion of your degree?
  7. Please upload your resume.
  8. Upload your FAFSA Submission Summary for next year.
  9. Enter your Student Aid Index that is on your FAFSA Submission Summary.
  10. UPLOAD: Please upload next year's Financial Aid Award Letter from the college you will attend. This document will be required before an award can be determined and should include: college name, applicant name, loans, grants and scholarships offered.
  11. What school issued the award letter that you uploaded?
  12. Upload documentation from the school you plan to attend that shows your total cost of attendance.
  13. Where will you live during the academic year for which you are applying?
  14. List the names of any siblings, their age(s), and what school(s) they are attending (if any).
  15. If you wish to inform the reviewers of any unusual financial circumstances, including costs associated with your education or educational loans already incurred for or by you, please provide here. Please note that tax forms, W-2s or other documentation may be requested to verify information on the FAFSA Submission Summary.
  16. SCHOLARSHIP CENTRAL RECOMMENDATION: Enter the name and e-mail address of an instructor, counselor, advisor, supervisor or other similarly qualified individual who will submit a recommendation on your behalf. NOTE: As the applicant, it is your responsibility to inform that person to watch for an email sent on your behalf that will explain how to complete this process.
  17. SCHOLARSHIP CENTRAL SECOND RECOMMENDATION: Enter the name and e-mail address of an instructor, counselor, advisor, supervisor or other similarly qualified individual who will submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. NOTE: As the applicant, it is your responsibility to inform that person to watch for an email sent on your behalf that will explain how to complete this process.
  18. SIGNATURE: By entering my full name below, I certify that the information I have provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and I authorize the St. Louis Community Foundation and its agents to examine, verify and discuss my academic records and other information that applies to the consideration of this application. My signature also signifies that, if awarded, I understand that it is my responsibility to inform the St. Louis Community Foundation of any changes to my college plans and that I understand that some portion of scholarship awards I receive from any source may be considered taxable income if the total amount exceeds the cost of tuition and course related fees, supplies and equipment.
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