Robert Felix Memorial Scholarship Program
Scholarship Sponsored by Tree Fund
Introduction
The Robert Felix Memorial Scholarship is the TREE Fund’s longest-standing endowed award, created in the original 2002 Declaration of Trust that formed the TREE Fund as a charitable grant-maker. It honors Bob Felix, whose more than 30 years of service to the green industry included leadership roles with the National Arborist Association (now the Tree Care Industry Association). Bob served on the NAA Board of Directors, was elected president in 1972, and subsequently spent 23 years as the association’s executive vice president. This scholarship supports students enrolled in undergraduate or technical college programs who are preparing for professional careers in commercial arboriculture.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be actively preparing for a professional career in commercial arboriculture.
- Be entering the second year of a two-year program, or entering the third or fourth year of a four-year program in the fall term following the award (for example: apply January–March 2026 for classes beginning Summer/Fall 2026).
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Be a current student member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
Award details
- Amount: $5,000 per recipient.
- Payment schedule: Awarded in two installments — $2,500 in the fall and $2,500 in the spring. The spring installment is contingent on continued enrollment and meeting GPA requirements.
- Restrictions: The scholarship is non-renewable. An individual may receive only one award from this program. Funds are paid directly to the recipient’s educational institution after TREE Fund receives required documentation and may be applied only to tuition charges. Applicants should not request an award in excess of their anticipated tuition for the academic year in which the grant will be disbursed.
Application period
TREE Fund will accept applications only from January 15 through March 15, 2026.
How to apply
Submit your application via the TREE Fund online portal (create an account or log in to begin). You may save progress as you collect materials. Required items include:
- Current enrollment status and description of academic standing.
- Record of prior scholarships, work experience, and extracurricular involvement.
- Personal essay (up to 1,000 words) explaining your reasons for choosing this career path, your professional goals, and why you should be selected.
- Official or current transcript.
- Proof of student membership in the International Society of Arboriculture.
- Two letters of recommendation (or contact details for recommenders); one must come from your academic advisor.
Selection process
The TREE Fund Education Committee will review applications and score them using the following rubric (maximum 100 points):
- Cumulative GPA: 20 points
- Essay: 30 points
- Advisor letter of recommendation: 20 points
- Second letter of recommendation: 15 points
- Demonstrated potential for a sustained career in arboriculture, urban forestry, or related fields: 15 points
Recommendations for awards will be forwarded to the TREE Fund Board of Trustees in May. Recipients will be announced within two weeks of the Board’s decision.
Equal opportunity and conflicts of interest
TREE Fund does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national or ethnic origin. Current TREE Fund trustees and members of their immediate families are ineligible for TREE Fund scholarships.
Award notification and fund distribution
Awardees will receive notification within two weeks of the Board of Trustees’ decision. The notification will include instructions for accepting the scholarship. After TREE Fund receives the required acceptance documentation, the first payment of $2,500 will be issued directly to the recipient’s institution. The second $2,500 payment will be made in the spring only after verification of re-enrollment and compliance with GPA standards.