St. Louis–The National Wood Flooring Association Education & Research Foundation has awarded its inaugural Wood Studies Scholarship to Nathan Ryan, a high school senior attending Pleasant Hill High School in Pleasant Hill, Mo. The $1,000 nonrenewable scholarship will be used by Ryan to fund his college studies to advance and improve forestry practices for future generations.
Ryan will begin a four-year program this fall to study Agronomy with a concentration in soil and environmental science at Kansas State University, in Manhattan, Kan. He is an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society, president of the Pleasant Hill FFA, and serves on the Pleasant Hill Student Council.
“Nathan exemplifies the attributes and spirit of the Wood Studies Scholarship,” said Michael Martin, NWFA president and CEO. “His high academic achievements, as well as his well-rounded extracurricular activities, demonstrate his commitment to the environment and his future career goals. We applaud his accomplishments to date, and are proud to support his future academic ambitions.”
To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; an ACT/SAT score of 25/1800 or higher; a letter of recommendation; a resume outlining activities, awards, leadership, community service and work experience; and complete an essay about how the study of forestry benefits the wood flooring industry. Applications were received from across the United States and were evaluated by the NWFA’s Scholarship Committee based on academics, extracurricular activities, and future goals.
The scholarship is offered through the NWFA Education & Research Foundation (NERF), whose mission is to conduct industry research and provide scholarships for training benefiting the wood flooring industry. Since its inception, NERF has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships.