Scholarships and Camperships 

Spring 2025
$5,000 ​Scholarships for Students
​Pursuing Environmental and Other Related Careers

Eligibility requirements - applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a resident of Centerbrook, Essex or Ivoryton;
• Be planning to pursue studies related to the environment or related field in an accredited two-year or four-year institute of higher learning;
• Be a high school senior or undergraduate/graduate college student.  Prior year recipients are also encouraged to reapply;
• Have a "B" or better grade point average.​

Fields may include: Agriculture, Conservation Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Humanities, Environment Justice, Environmental Law and Public Policy, Environmental Toxicology, Forestry, Geology, Horticulture, Renewable Energy or Urban Ecology.
Closely related subjects may also apply: Land Conservation, Landscape Design, Nursery Management.

Applications are available from your Guidance Counselor,
at the Essex and Ivoryton Libraries or 
Click here to download the Scholarship Application

Deadline: Return completed application by April 25, 2025
​to your Guidance Counselor or mail to
Essex Garden Club
Attention: Scholarship Committee
PO Box 936
Essex, CT 06426

Your Education is Important to Us

​Essex Garden Club 2023-2024 Scholarship Awards

The Essex Garden Club is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 college scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to students who are pursuing studies related to the environment. This year scholarships totaling $24,000 were awarded to the following seven area students:

Anna Benson, a 2023 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a sophomore in the fall and attends Northeastern University. Her major is Biology, and she is a member of the Husky Environmental Action Team at Northeastern, which is a club that promotes sustainability on campus.

Nathaniel Hill, a 2021 graduate of Valley Regional High School, will be a senior at University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and is pursuing a degree in Sustainability, Ecology and Policy with a minor in Community and International Development. Nathaniel is interested in biodiversity initiatives and studied in Galway, Ireland in the spring of 2024 to expand his knowledge of how small communities create and implement biodiversity action plans.

Cayden Willetts-Johnson, a senior at Valley Regional High School, is planning on attending the University of Vermont in the fall. Her intended major is Environmental Science & Policy Management with a minor in Geospatial Technologies. She volunteers with the Essex Land Trust and is a member of the Valley Regional Environmental Club.

Zachary Jones, a senior at Valley Regional High School is planning on attending the University of Connecticut at Avery Point. His intended major is Marine Science. He is a member of the Valley Regional Environmental Club and has engaged in volunteer work related to the environment for the CT Department of Environmental Protection, Clinton Parks & Rec and Essex Land Trust.

Anna McCauley, a senior at Valley Regional High School, plans to attend Fordham College at Rose Hill in the fall. Anna plans to pursue a degree in Biology and French. Anna has volunteered with the Essex Land Trust on a riparian buffer study and is a member of the Valley Regional Environmental Club.

Michael McCauley is a 2022 graduate of Xavier High School and will be a junior at Union College in the fall of 2024. His major is Environmental Policy, and he is interested in the world of advanced manufacturing and believes this is the best way to solve environmental problems the world faces. You can see Michael cleaning up the shores of North Cove this summer.

Abigail Reardon, a senior at Valley Regional High School, plans to attend the University of Miami where she will study Marine Science and Biology. Abigail founded the Environmental Club and volunteered with the Essex Land Trust on a riparian buffer study at select locations.

In addition, the garden club provided scholarships to help 50 children from the Essex Communities attend area environmental camps offered by The Incarnation Center, Camp Hazen, and Essex Parks and Recreation.

The proceeds from the club's annual May Market and two Pop Up Sales make these scholarships possible along with generous grants received from the Kitchings Family Foundation and Essex Savings Bank.

Front row, left to right: Nathanial Hill, Abigail Reardon, Anna Benson 
Back row, left to right: Cayden Willetts-Johnson, Anna McCauley, Zachary Jones, Deb Carreau (Chair Essex Garden Club Scholarship Committee)
Missing from photo: Michael McCauley