Forestry Leader Scholarship

Established in 2017 by a very charitable and anonymous WWOA member, the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association Forestry Leader Scholarship aims to carry forward WWOA’s educational mission in a partnership with the forestry program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Since it’s establishment, our very generous members have joined this cause with the interest of educating future generations on the value of sustainable forestry and ensuring private woodland owners will always have access to well-trained foresters.

With a passion for sustainable forest management, WWOA’s mission, since 1979, is to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty and utility of the woodlands. WWOA works to bridge the gap between private woodland owners and natural resources professionals by offering year-round educational opportunities and promoting the value of sustainable forestry throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Contributing

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Visit the donations page of our website to make an online donation to the fund. Be sure to specify in your payment notes that the donation is for the scholarship fund.

If you prefer to donate using a check, please send us a note expressing the donation should go to the scholarship fund, along with a check payable to WWOA.  Mail to WWOA, PO Box 285, Stevens Point, WI 54481.

How to Apply

Find the ONLINE APPLICATION, here.
Our Annual Scholarship application period is November 1st – January 1st.

Eligibility

  • Enrolled full-time at UW-Stevens Point in the fall semester of the year of application
  • Major in Forest Management
  • Have at least two semesters remaining after the spring semester when scholarship is awarded
  • Resident of Wisconsin
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8
  • No handwritten applications will be accepted
  • All parts of the application must be complete and included
  • Must be willing to attend the WWOA’s Award Banquet in September 2026.
  • WWOA’s Executive Director and/or President will also attend the UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources Celebration Evening in April 2026 meet the recipient.

Required Documents

  • Application
  • Unofficial transcript
  • Resume
  • Essay response

Selection Criteria

  1. Demonstrated passion for sustainable forestry in Wisconsin
  2. Proven commitment to and regularly practiced service above self
  3. Experience in the forestry field or relevant summer work
  4. Preference given to students who have been WWOA members for the past 3 years or related to WWOA members who have been WWOA members for the past 3 years.

Submission

  • Submit all materials to WWOA office or mail to WWOA, PO Box 285, Stevens Point, WI 54481
  • Must be received or postmarked by January 1, 2026
Questions? 

Contact the WWOA Office at 715-572-4223 or wwoaoffice@wisconsinwoodlands.org

Scholarship Recipients

2026– Hunter Howland

2025– Michael Steinhoff

2024– Brandon Schott

2023 – Noah Frei

2022 – Sydney Ellis, Garret Dament

2021 – Tou Ger Vue

2020 – Steven Krueger, Colby Powers, and Brody Fischer

2019 – Violet Thielke

2018 – Travis Wollenberg

 

WWOA proudly announces the 2026 recipient of the Forestry Leader Scholarship, Hunter Howland!

 

2026 Recipient:
Hunter Howland

Hunter Howland, a junior at UW-Stevens Point, is the 2026 recipient of WWOA’s Forestry Leader Scholarship. Howland expects to graduate after the fall 2027 semester with a bachelor’s degree in forestry. He is earning a double major in forest management and ecosystem restoration, as well as minors in forest health and ecology, and certificates in fire science and timber marking.

During his time at UWSP, Howland has been incredibly active with multiple leadership roles in the school’s student chapter of the Society of American Foresters. He also is involved with UWSP’s Fire Crew where he helped teach the Type 2 Wildland Firefighting certification and also did some prescribed burns in Cook County, Illinois. During this summer, he is working at Rayonier as a forest procurement intern.

Howland said he hopes to work in the public sector. “I want to work with landowners to help do proper forest restoration and management,” he said. “Along with that, I want to promote forest management and really teach people the importance of forestry and transfer my passion for forestry to others. That has been one of my greatest joys in college so far as I love seeing more folks grow their passion for forestry.”

Howland thanked WWOA and its members for the scholarship and investment in his education. “I can’t express how much this helps me be able to solely focus on my education and seize the many forestry career building opportunities during college,” he said.

Do you know someone who could benefit from this scholarship? WWOA accepts applications from November 1 – January 1 annually. The scholarship award is split between two semesters, with the selected student receiving a total of $5,000.

Thank you so very much to all the WWOA members who have made this scholarship a reality!