Animal Advocates Merit Award of Pennsylvania
Very few opportunities exist when it comes to providing financial support for educational opportunities in the professional animal welfare fields, especially for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.
Students who plan to build a career in animal welfare, training, or behavior should be uplifted so they can obtain the educational experiences they need, whether it is through workshops, seminars, individual college courses, online credit courses, or a college degree program focusing on animal welfare and/or animal behavior. When financial obstacles stand between a student and higher education, the world loses out on the benefits they would have brought to their communities through their careers.
This scholarship seeks to support students who are passionate about working with animals in the future.
Any high school student, undergraduate student, or young adult (<25 years old) in Pennsylvania who is pursuing a career related to animals may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they have a history of advocacy in animal welfare.
Preferential consideration is provided for applicants:
1. who were in, and exited from, the Pennsylvania child welfare system prior to age 16
2. who have documented volunteerism in animal welfare through the Presidential Volunteer Service Program (PVSP)
To apply, tell us how your educational plans tie into an animal-related career, how your journey and goals connect, and what inspired your devotion to animals. Additionally, include photos and/or a short video showing yourself caring for and/or interacting with animals, such as by feeding newborns, demonstrating dogs that you have trained performing commands/skills, photos from volunteer/employment in an animal-related welfare activity, etc. If you have received awards through the PVSP, it is recommended that you upload an image of your certificate(s) from the program. Applicants may also choose to upload letters of recommendation from an animal welfare professional and/or organization in support of the applicant's request.
Explain how this scholarship and your education plans tie into an animal-related career and/or advocacy. If you’re pursuing a non-animal related program, major, or course of study, indicate the connection between the program you’re pursuing and your plans – for example, a program in non-profit administration and/or grant writing can be tied into plans to operate a rescue.
Share how your personal journey, education goals, and passion for animal welfare and/or training connect.
What inspired your devotion to animals?
Note: Please do NOT plagiarize nor use Chat GPT or similar AI tools. Use of spelling and grammar checkers such as Grammarly or native to MS-Word or Google Docs IS permitted.
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FAQ
The application deadline is Nov 30, 2025. Winners will be announced on Dec 30, 2025.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Dec 30, 2025. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution or future academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
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Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.