The Animal Welfare Institute Scholarship: Investing in Future Animal Advocates

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is dedicated to improving animal treatment across various settings, including laboratories, farms, commercial environments, homes, and the wild. With over seven decades of advocating for animals, AWI has made significant strides. To build upon these accomplishments, AWI established the Animal Welfare Institute Scholarship fund, aiming to support future generations in their pursuit of improving animal lives. The scholarship seeks to invest in future leaders committed to reducing animal suffering.

Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria

The Animal Welfare Institute Scholarship fund is designed to support high school seniors in the United States who have shown a commitment to animal welfare and intend to pursue careers aimed at reducing animal suffering and protecting vulnerable species.

High school seniors in the United States are eligible to apply for this scholarship if they:

Have demonstrated a commitment to animal welfare through volunteer work and/or advocacy.
Intend to pursue a career that will seek to reduce animal suffering and protect vulnerable species.

Applicants will be required to submit a letter of recommendation from someone (not a family member) who is involved with or directly aware of efforts by the student to help protect animals. If selected as a finalist, the applicant will be required to supply confirmation of acceptance to a college or university prior to scholarship distribution.

How to Apply and Key Dates

Beginning on Monday, November 24, applications will be accessible from the AWI website until the submission deadline. The 2026-27 scholarship cycle will open for applications on November 24. Recipients will be announced by May 1, 2026. The Animal Welfare Institute Scholarship winner will be announced: May 1, 2025. Apply online any time before March 16, 2024.

Application Requirements

To apply, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from individuals (not family members) who can speak to the applicant’s education record and commitment to animal welfare. Applicants will be required to submit a letter of recommendation from someone (not a family member) who is involved with or directly aware of efforts by the student to help protect animals. We do need a recommendation letter from someone such as a guidance counselor or teacher who can vouch for the student’s academic strengths. We want to hear about the applicant, their experiences, and their thoughts about animal welfare. Applicants can choose from three essay questions.

Scholarship Award Details

Up to 12 applicants will be chosen to receive scholarships, worth $3,000 each. All applicants will receive a subscription to the AWI Quarterly magazine. The Animal Welfare Institute Scholarship provides a $3,000 scholarship. AWI launched its scholarship program in December 2019. To date, we have provided 50 scholarships totaling $114,000. We reserve the right to adjust the number of awards and the amounts of the awards based on the entries received.

How Applications Are Reviewed

A committee from the Animal Welfare Institute will review applications and choose recipients who have a strong track record of advocating for animals and an impressive and clear plan to continue working to reduce the human-inflicted suffering of animals. This committee will also review and confirm the required letters of recommendation.

Inspiration Behind the Scholarship

Like many animal advocates, AWI Scholarship recipients often cite specific experiences that influenced and reinforced their commitment to animal welfare. For Katja Erringer, her future goals began to take shape in middle school when she volunteered for a local wildlife rescue caring for orphaned birds. Amanda Brown credits growing up with companion animals, as well as a particularly revelatory middle school lesson about bat conservation for inspiring her commitment to wildlife. She says, “I had originally been scared of bats, but learning about their ecological importance made me really fall in love with them. As a quiet and reserved child, Tyler Woods was coaxed out of his shell by his family’s adopted pup, Marley. When Marley was diagnosed with an esophageal disorder, Tyler began researching the condition and looking for ways to help his beloved companion. These are just a small sample of the life experiences that have motivated AWI Scholarship recipients to pursue fields of study in college that will prepare them for a career helping animals.

Financial Need Consideration

Financial need is considered if it becomes necessary to further refine the number of finalists.

Previous Scholarship Winners

2025 Scholarship Winners

Violet Allori - Banks, OR
Hanna Juma - Glassboro, NJ
Colleen Kielbania - Ipswich, MA
Sania Lee - Conyers, GA
Blake Lugosi - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Kayla Mabry - Belmont, MI
Cora McCabe - Arlington, VA
Aashay Mody - Irvine, CA
John O'Connor - Tenafly, NJ
Daniel Onwudinanti - Midlothian, TX
Madison Villafane - Mount Pleasant, SC
Samantha Waldron - Pocatello, ID

2024 Scholarship Winners

Luke Andersen - Nevada, MO
Robert Berlage - Chicago, IL
Emily Comar - Washington, DC
Katherine Fourtner - St. Louis, MO
Siraj Gandhi - Monroe Township, NJ
Rylan Garrett - Charlottesville, VA
Julia Jackson - Durham, NC
Cathrine Lamprecht - Holmes Beach FL
Claire Lignore - Portland, OR
Claudia Metge - Greer, SC
Rebecca Rhodes - Lake Forest Park, WA
Janelly Villalobos - Columbus, IN

2023 Scholarship Winners

Samantha Thurston - River Falls, WI
Iris Price - Grapevine, TX
Amy Sheehan - Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Jae Lieberman - Dunwoody, GA
Cora Steichen - Bedford, NH
Liam Hopkins - Morrison, CO
Ellia Claffey-Hesseltine - Newington, CT

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