Delaware Highlands Conservancy Accepting College Scholarship Applications

On January 6, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy announced it is now accepting applications from eligible high school seniors for the Vanessa Joy Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship. 

The $2,500 scholarship is open to students in school districts bordering the Upper Delaware River in New York and Pennsylvania, including Hancock Central, Deposit Central, Eldred, Monticello, and Sullivan West in NY, and Wallenpaupack Area, Honesdale, Delaware Valley, and Western Wayne in PA.

In 2015, the Conservancy established the scholarship in memory of Vanessa Joy Van Gorder. 

A recent graduate from West Chester University with a degree in education, Vanessa was passionate about the outdoors and loved exploring the lakes, rivers, and forests of the Upper Delaware River Region with her friends and family. 

The scholarship is open to high school seniors pursuing a career in education or environmental stewardship. 

Students at eligible districts should contact their guidance counselors for applications. 

Applications must be submitted through the school’s guidance counselor for transmittal to the Delaware Highlands Conservancy Scholarship Committee by March 20, 2026. 

Recipients of the scholarship will be notified in May.

Visit the Vanessa Joy Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship webpage for more information.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy’s mission is to conserve the forests, farmland, clean waters, and wildlife habitat of the Upper Delaware River region for present and future generations and to foster environmental stewardship through community engagement. 

For more information, call 570-226-3164 or 845-583-1010.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy Partners With Landowner Allen Jones To Conserve 230 Acres In Snyder, Mifflin Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy Partners With Robin Read, John Bierley To Conserve 116 Acres In Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Accepting College Scholarship Applications  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Williamsport Sun/Spotlight PA: Battle For Heart, Health Of Allegheny National Forest [PDF of Article]

-- Scranton Times: Up A Tree: From High Peaks In 67 Counties, Van Wagner Sees The Beauty And Value Of Forests   [PDF of Article]   

-- Warren Times: Therapist Takes Clinic To The Outdoors

[Posted: January 6, 2026]  PA Environment Digest