Scholarships

Home Education Scholarships

CPNRD-Ron Bishop Memorial College Scholarship Program

Madelyn Graham, Grand Island, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year. She is majoring in Environmental Science and Biology.

2025-2026 APPLICATION

CHANGES TO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

In April 2024, the Board approved changes to the scholarship program, extending the annual application deadline to June 15th and allowing applications from college sophomores through graduate students who are majoring in a natural resources-related field.

The Central Platte Natural Resources District offers $1,000 scholarships to college students annually through the CPNRD-Ron Bishop Memorial College Scholarship Program. Applicants must be a college sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student enrolled in a natural resources course of study at an accredited college or university.
Eligible applicants or their parent(s) must reside within CPNRD boundaries which reach from Gothenburg to Columbus in Nebraska along the Platte River.  Return applicants and recipients are eligible to apply. Applications must be postmarked by June 15, 2025.

Five (5) scholarships will be awarded at $1,000 per student for the 2025-2026 school year. Return applicants and recipients are eligible to apply. Applicants or their parent(s) must reside within CPNRD boundaries; which reach from Gothenburg to Columbus along the Platte River (see map).

Some of the careers that qualify:

  • Agronomy
  • Applied Science/Diversified Agriculture Biologist/Biochemistry in Natural Resources
  • Engineer: Civil, Mechanical, Chemical
  • Conservationist
  • Earth/Environmental Science
  • Environmental Education
  • Fisheries and Wildlife
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • Geological Engineering
  • Hydrologist, Hydrogeologist
  • Mechanized Systems-Soil & Water Conservation
  • Rangeland Management
  • Resources Conservationist
  • Soil Conservationist
  • Vocational/Agriculture Educator
  • Water Resources Specialist
  • Other Natural Resources related fields

CPNRD’s college scholarship program was implemented in 2007 and has provided $118,000 to 136 students.

Central Platte NRD is one of 23 separate Natural Resources Districts created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1972 to protect the state's natural resources.  CPNRD mission is to protect groundwater and surface water, reduce flood threats, conserve soil health, create and protect wildlife habitat, and educate children and adults to use natural resources wisely.

Jami Harper Scholarship

The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival and Jami Harper offer an annual $250 scholarship for students entering a water resources field. Jami Harper has presented at the Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival since she was a junior at Northwest High School in Grand Island. She created a class called H20Wood Squares based off of the popular game show Hollywood Squares~only her version teaches students about water issues.

Due to her success in creating this class and trying to educate students about the importance of our groundwater, she was in the running for the Volvo for Life award. Jami Harper placed 3rd in the Volvo for Life Contest and $25,000 to give to any educational event she preferred. She selected to give the Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival $10,000 for a scholarship and grant program. The scholarship program is set up to allow any Nebraska high school student that is pursuing a career in water to apply for a one-time $250.00 scholarship. The recipient is selected by Jami and the Festival Committee. Miss Harper’s goal is for high school students to be aware that anyone can make a difference in the world. Scholarship Application: https://gicf.eformsolutions.com/gicf/applications