North Carolina Forestry Association Announces 2025 Forest Education And Conservation Fund Scholarship Recipients

RALEIGH, NC (April 29, 2025) – The North Carolina Forestry Association (NCFA) is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the Forest Education and Conservation Fund (FECF) Scholarship:

Skylar Deaton, North Carolina State University ($2,000)

(Nicholas M. Curtis Memorial Scholarship Endowment)

Beckett London, North Carolina State University ($2,000)

David Scott, Wayne Community College ($1,000)
Grayson Smith, Haywood Community College ($1,000)

Since she was a little girl, Skylar Deaton has spent most of her time outside which inspired her to pursue a degree in Forest Management from NC State University (NCSU). “I hope to have a future career in forest management where I can ensure forests are properly managed for generations to come,” said Deaton

Beckett London is seeking a degree in Forest Management from NC State University with a coursework concentration on timber procurement and silvicultural operations practices. “In addition to being a future forester, I see myself as a land steward committed to striking a balance between environmental responsibility and economic progress,” said London.

David Scott is a returning student at Wayne Community College and in his second year of the Forest Management Technology program. “I really like the relationships I have built and the things I have learned since going back to school. I have become more interested in wildlife and conservation [and] I would like to work for the US Fish & Wildlife Service, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, or the US Forest Service,” says Scott.

Grayson Smith was inspired to pursue a degree in Forest Management Technology after teaching wildlife and plant lessons at a summer camp in Brevard, NC; he wanted to learn more about forest ecosystems. “Over my time at Haywood, I have learned the importance of protecting and managing forested areas…I plan to become involved in forestry research while continuing my studies at a four-year university and in silviculture and ecology,” says Smith.

“On behalf of the North Carolina Forestry Association and the Forest Education and Conservation Fund, I’d like to congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients,” said John Hatcher, PhD, executive director, North Carolina Forestry Association. “Our organization’s mission is to ensure healthy, productive, and sustainable forests, and that starts with fostering the next generation of forestry professionals who will contribute to this mission. We wish the best of luck as [these students] continue in their academic endeavors.”

About the FECF Scholarship Program

To be eligible for the FECF scholarship program, students must be residents of North Carolina enrolled in one of the following institutions: North Carolina State University (NCSU), Haywood Community College, Montgomery Community College, or Wayne Community College. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, pursuing a degree in forest management or paper science and engineering in the College of Natural Resources at NCSU, or forest management technology at one of the aforementioned community colleges.

The Nicholas M. Curtis Memorial Scholarship Endowment was recently established to honor the late Nicholas Maxwell Curtis, a U.S. Army veteran who lived a life committed to sustainable forestry and helping others. His memory is honored by this Endowment through the FECF. The goal of the scholarship is to help ease the financial burdens of NCSU students who are pursuing a degree in forest management.

ABOUT THE NORTH CAROLINA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION (NCFA)

The North Carolina Forestry Association (NCFA) is a private, non-profit partnership of approximately 4,000 forest managers, landowners, forest products manufacturers, loggers, educators, students, and others concerned about the long-term health and productivity of the state’s forest resources and the industries they support. Established in 1911, the NCFA is the state’s oldest forest conservation organization, with a mission to ensure healthy, productive, and sustainable forests. Learn more: www.ncforestry.org

ABOUT THE FOREST EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION FUND (FECF)

The Forest Education and Conservation Fund (FECF) was founded in 1965 as an extension of the NCFA. The FECF was established to receive gifts for the educational, scientific, and technological advancement of forestry. Though recognized as separate entities, both the FECF and NCFA are adjoined in the goal of conducting coordinated programs and activities that amplify the voice of forestry across North Carolina.

Media Contact:

Jeanne Harmor, Director of Communications

North Carolina Forestry Association

jharmor@ncforestry.org

(919) 834-3943 ext. 5