Bonnie Appleton Memorial Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Tree Fund

Overview

The Bonnie Appleton Memorial Scholarship was created by the MidAtlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (MAC-ISA) together with Trees Virginia to honor the legacy of Dr. Bonnie Appleton. Dr. Appleton was deeply committed to science and passionate about horticulture and arboriculture. Her work at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) reached far beyond the campus: she was a respected researcher, a prolific author, and a devoted teacher and mentor to students and colleagues. Her contributions to arboriculture, horticulture, and academia were recognized internationally. Her untimely death in July 2012 underscored the many lives she influenced during her career.

Purpose and Award Details

The scholarship provides financial assistance to undergraduate students pursuing studies in urban forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, nursery management, or closely related majors. Each scholarship is $5,000 and will be disbursed in two equal installments ($2,500 each): the first payment in the fall semester and the second in the spring semester. The second payment is contingent on the recipient’s continued enrollment and meeting required GPA standards. The award is non-renewable and an individual may not receive more than one award from this scholarship program. Awards are paid directly to the recipient’s educational institution and may be applied only to tuition. Applicants must not request an award amount that exceeds their projected tuition costs for the academic year in which the grant will be used.

Eligibility

Applicants must satisfy all of the following to be eligible:
- Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in urban forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, nursery management, or a related field.
- Classified as a rising junior or rising senior and planning to be enrolled full-time at an accredited undergraduate institution in the United States during the scholarship award year.
- Demonstrate a clear commitment to pursuing a career in one of the listed fields.
- Hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

How to Apply

TREE Fund will accept applications only between January 15 and March 15, 2026.

To submit an application, use TREE Fund’s online application portal. Applicants will need to create an account or sign in to the portal. Progress can be saved while gathering required materials.

Required application materials and information:
- Current educational standing and enrollment status.
- Record of prior scholarships and relevant extracurricular activities.
- An essay (maximum 1,000 words) explaining why you chose your field, your career goals and objectives, and why you should be selected for this scholarship.
- Current academic transcript.
- Proof of student membership in the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
- Two letters of recommendation, or contact details for two recommenders (one recommender must be your academic advisor).

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed and scored by TREE Fund’s Education Committee. Committee members will use the following scoring rubric (maximum 100 points):
- Cumulative GPA: 20 points
- Essay: 30 points
- Advisor letter of recommendation: 20 points
- Second letter of recommendation: 15 points
- Potential for continuing a career in arboriculture, urban forestry, or related fields: 15 points

TREE Fund, MAC-ISA, and Trees Virginia prioritize applicants who demonstrate a strong likelihood of beginning and remaining in careers within urban forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, nursery management, or related professions. Essays and applicants’ academic, work, and extracurricular records should reflect that commitment.

Equal Opportunity and Ineligible Recipients

TREE Fund does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national or ethnic origin, or other protected status. Current TREE Fund trustees and members of their immediate families are not eligible to receive TREE Fund scholarships.

Award Notification and Payment

Scholarship award recommendations will be presented to the TREE Fund Board of Trustees in May each year. Award decisions will be announced within two weeks of the Board’s decision. The award letter will include instructions for submitting acceptance information.

After TREE Fund receives the required acceptance information, the first installment ($2,500) will be paid directly to the recipient’s institution. The second installment will be released to the institution only after verification that the recipient remains enrolled and meets the required GPA standards.