Friends of Virgin Islands National Park believes that the future of conservation on St. John resides in our youth. As such we are focused on building a pipeline of concerned and engaged citizens starting with School Kids In The Park (SKIP) and Learn To Swim programs through scholarships, summer job opportunities, and internships.
We offer two undergraduate scholarship programs to local high school seniors or undergraduate students studying in a field related to natural and cultural resource conservation. Applicants may apply for both the Jeffrey Matheny Scholarship and the Noble Samuel Scholarship, but can only be awarded one of the scholarships.
Jeffrey Matheny Scholarship
This scholarship program was established by Jeffrey Matheny's family to support local students at the university level studying fields related to natural resource management and/or protection.
Noble Samuel Scholarship
The Noble Samuel Scholarship is endowed by anonymous donors inspired by a man who generously shared his love for our park with passion and humility. It is available to local youth attending college and includes a paid internship opportunity.