SAUGUS — Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) has broadened requirements this year for students applying to their annual $500 scholarship.
For years, SAVE’s Environmental Scholarship was solely for Saugus Public School students pursuing two- or four-year degrees in fields directly pertaining to sustainability. However, due in part to a lack of interest, the nonprofit organization is now considering a bigger pool of applicants.
This pool includes students who live in Saugus but don’t necessarily attend Saugus Public Schools, as well as those seeking careers outside of sustainability.
“The requirements used to call for someone pursuing a degree in the environment … but we’ve changed the parameters to something looser, which means anyone pursuing a degree in a field that positively impacts the environment can apply,” said SAVE president Ann Devlin.
Devlin noted art and STEM-related majors as examples, adding that as long as applicants can demonstrate their intended major has potential to impact the environment in a positive way, anyone is welcome to apply.
“It runs the gamut from artists to engineers. It’s such a wide-open field if you can prove your case,” she said. “Since anything that we do locally impacts the global environment, we want to encourage anyone interested in making the environment better. We want to reward those people and support them.”
Student interest has been so low in recent years that SAVE hasn’t awarded a scholarship since 2016.
Part of the problem may be the current administration, which Devlin said is less than encouraging towards environmentally-focused jobs.
However, she’s hopeful SAVE’s updated guidelines mean the organization will soon be welcoming an entirely new wave of applicants.
“We are hoping for some good candidates this year,” she said.
SAVE vice president Margery Hunter agreed, and added she hopes to see more students taking climate change seriously.
“Students should be mindful that the future of the environment is up to them,” she said.
Students can download the SAVE 2020 Environmental Scholarship application form at www.saugusSAVE.org. Applications must include a summary of the student’s activities, as well as a description of how the student feels his or her career choice will positively impact the environment.
All applications must be postmarked or emailed no later than April 24, 2020. For more information, contact Ann Devlin at [email protected].
