The Walker Street Conservancy Scholarship

Supporting Future Generations

The Walker Street Conservancy seeks to support the next generation of stewards dedicated to the ecological health, design, and preservation of urban green spaces. This $1,000 award is intended to offset the costs of tuition, books, or required professional equipment for a student demonstrating a commitment to urban conservation.

• Limited to one scholarship awarded per academic year
• A minimum of $1,000 awarded per scholarship
• Scholarship to be paid directly to the educational institution and applied to the awardee’s tuition
• Award Date: TBD

Eligibility Requirements

To ensure a local connection and mission alignment, applicants must meet the following three criteria:

1. Geography: Applicant must currently reside in the City of Cincinnati OR be currently enrolled in an accredited educational institution located within Hamilton County, Ohio.

2. Student Status: Applicant must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (Associate, Bachelor, or Graduate) OR a professional/technical certificate program (e.g., Horticulture, Arboriculture, or Sustainable Landscaping).

3. Academic Standing: Applicant must be in good standing with their respective institution.

Approved Fields of Study

The Conservancy recognizes that urban conservation is a multidisciplinary effort. We welcome applicants from a broad range of fields, including but not limited to:

• Design & Planning: Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, and Community Development.

• Environmental Science: Horticulture, Botany, Forestry, Ecology, and Environmental Engineering.

• Applied Trades: Sustainable Agriculture, Arboriculture, and Land Management.

• Social Impact: Public Policy or Nonprofit Management with a focus on urban park equity or green space preservation.

Selection Criteria

The Board of Directors (or an appointed Selection Committee) will evaluate applicants based on:

• A Personal Statement (Max 500 words): Describing the applicant’s interest in urban conservation and how their studies will contribute to the health or beauty of urban environments like Cincinnati’s hillside neighborhoods.

• Project Interest (Optional Preference): Preference may be given to students whose current work or research involves the stabilization, preservation, or ecological restoration of urban hillsides or “lost” historic pathways.

Administrative Compliance

• Objective Selection: Relatives of current Walker Street Conservancy Board members or substantial contributors are ineligible to apply to avoid conflicts of interest.

• Payment: Funds will be paid directly to the educational institution for the benefit of the student or provided as a reimbursement for documented educational expenses.

Scholarship Winner

2026 Walker Street Conservancy Scholarship Winner:

Miriam Sutch – Sustainable Horticulture and Landscape Horticulture Degrees

4.0 GPA

• In her first year, Miriam represented Cincinnati State at the 2025 National Collegiate Landscape Competition, placing 7^th nationally in both Landscape Plant Installation and Annual & Perennial Identification.
• In 2026, she competed and placed 3^rd in the Annual & Perennial ID event and 5^th in Robotics and Technology out of more than 100 students.

It is our honor to award Miriam with our annual scholarship. She will certainly go far in her chosen field.