Lynn Davis was a leading force behind the creation of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge in 1988 and has remained active with FRIENDS. In honor of her dedication, the Lynn Davis Scholarship Program has been established to assist students from Blue Ridge communities where our volunteer chapters operate. 

Lynn is a lifelong learner and spent her career pouring her energies into serving communities and government agencies with an education focus so we can be good stewards of our natural world.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a high school senior (or equivalent if homeschooled) in the local FRIENDS Chapter’s service area. Exception: Recipients of a scholarship are eligible to reapply the next year.
  • List of Schools
  • Homeschool students are also eligible
• GPA of at least 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale or equivalent
• Plan to attend an accredited two-year or four-year institution of higher learning
• Plan to pursue a degree/career in environmental or cultural studies is preferred. An applicant may also indicate participation in activities that align with the FRIENDS mission.
  • FRIENDS has a broad definition of environmental studies, which includes studies in natural resources, sciences, engineering, land management, relative cultural studies (such as art, history, or cultural music like Old Time and Bluegrass music), and more.
  • The intention is to support a student with a passion to help preserve, promote, and enhance natural beauty, ecological vitality, and cultural distinctiveness for future generations.
• Align with the mission of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge by demonstrating a commitment to help preserve, promote, and enhance the natural beauty, ecological vitality, and cultural distinctiveness, such as art, cultural music, or history, for future generations
• Complete the entire application process and submit the packet on or before midnight March 11th

Scholarship Student Overview and Eligibility (PDF)

Scholarship Student Application Form (PDF) The online application form can be accessed by clicking this button:

Required materials

1. Provide a personal letter/statement (typed, 500 words maximum)
   • On a separate sheet of paper, please prepare a letter/statement telling the selection committee about:
     • your passion for the preservation of natural resources and/or cultural heritage
     • your plan to impact the preservation of natural resources and/or cultural heritage in the future
     • your education, career, and volunteer goals
2. Provide one (1) letter of recommendation
   • On a separate sheet of paper, based on the mission of FRIENDS stated on the first page of the application, the person writing a recommendation to the selection committee should explain why the student applying for this scholarship is a strong candidate to receive the award.
3. Provide an activity sheet (or equivalent such as a resume)
   • On a separate sheet of paper, please outline:
     • participation in extracurricular activities including dates of participation
     • level of involvement including leadership roles
     • any awards and honors received
4. Provide the most recent copy of your school transcript (or homeschool equivalent)

A plan to pursue a degree/career in environmental or cultural studies is preferred. An applicant may also indicate participation in activities that align with the FRIENDS mission—what does that mean?

FRIENDS has a broad definition of environmental studies, which includes studies in natural resources, sciences, engineering, land management, relative cultural studies (such as art, history, or Old Time and Bluegrass music), and more. The intention is to support a student with a passion to help preserve, promote, and enhance natural beauty, ecological vitality, and cultural distinctiveness for future generations.

Scholarship Application Deadline and Award Notification

Scholarship application deadline

March 11

Award notification

April 15

3 ways to submit your application:

1. Use the black button above to complete the application form and upload your attachments.
2. Email it to staff@friendsbrp.org
3. Mail your completed scholarship packet to FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge, Attn: Scholarships, PO Box 20986, Roanoke, VA 24018. Note: Transcripts that must be mailed by the school will have a grace period of 5 days.