Richard Smith (center), Warren County Conservation District Board Director, presented the Ralph G. Eckert Scholarship to Nathaniel Tenney (left), a 2011 graduate from Warren Area High School who will be attending Penn State University, Behrend Campus. Tenney received a $500.00 scholarship and is majoring in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering. Lauren Ohler (right) also received a $500.00 scholarship. Ohler is a 2011 graduate from Tidioute Community Charter School. She will be attending Gannon University majoring in Environmental Engineering.

 This scholarship is named for Ralph Eckert, who served in the Soil Conservation Service in Warren County, PA from 1950-1966.  A Penn State graduate in Forestry, Mr. Eckert devoted his entire life to conservation issues.  He was a frequent lecturer and instructor of youth on proper stewardship of our natural resources.  He was also active in the Boy Scout movement, wrote columns for the local newspaper, and contributed articles to Outdoor magazine.  In addition, Mr. Eckert was instrumental in planning and developing the Outdoor Ecology Lab at Eisenhower High School in Russell, PA.  The Warren County Conservation District is proud to offer this scholarship in his name, to promote the love of the outdoors, the conservation of the environment, and wise management of natural resources through education.    

This would be a career choice that would directly serve the goal of conserving our natural resources.    

Below is a list of degrees to illustrate some examples:   

Eckert Scholarship Application (Word Version) 

Eckert Scholarship Application (PDF Version) 

 The scholarship is a dedicated fund designed to provide for the immediate needs of Warren County students pursuing careers in conservation related fields, at the same time providing for the future needs of all Warren County residents by conserving our environment through education and service.   

Donations to the Eckert Scholarship fund are accepted from environmentally concerned citizens at: