The Naperville Garden Club awards scholarships to provide financial assistance for graduating high school seniors and college students in the Naperville area whose studies are concentrated in the conservation, horticulture or environmental sciences. We have given $307,050 as of August 2022. The deadline this year is April 1, really.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and preference is given to students residing within School Districts 203 or 204. Scholarships are renewable on a yearly basis, provided the student reapplies and continues to meet the standards of the scholarship program. Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, commitment to career, extracurricular activities and financial need.
Scholarship funds are determined in April and are dependent on the success of the club’s major fundraiser, the Cup of Cheer™ House Walk, Holiday Market and Tea, held the first Thursday and Friday each December.
Completed applications and all supporting materials are due April 1 to the Scholarship Chairperson. Applicants will be notified by e-mail by May 1. For our most recent Application Form, please see the following link:
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and preference is given to students residing within School Districts 203 or 204. Scholarships are renewable on a yearly basis, provided the student reapplies and continues to meet the standards of the scholarship program. Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, commitment to career, extracurricular activities and financial need.
Scholarship funds are determined in April and are dependent on the success of the club’s major fundraiser, the Cup of Cheer™ House Walk, Holiday Market and Tea, held the first Thursday and Friday each December.
Completed applications and all supporting materials are due April 1 to the Scholarship Chairperson. Applicants will be notified by e-mail by May 1. For our most recent Application Form, please see the following link:
| 2023-24_ngc_scholarship_application.docx |
2024 Scholarship Recipients
Scholarship Recipients for the academic year 2024-25
Daniel “Caleb” Dowd
Iowa State University
Environmental Engineering
(graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School)
This is the second time that Caled will be receiving a scholarship from the Naperville Garden Club. Last summer he participated in a research project on campus analyzing soil strength after vibrations caused by events such as earthquakes and volcanoes, hoping to limit building collapse after such damage. He is a member of Engineers for a Sustainable World, using engineering concepts to make campuses safe and eco-friendly. He will be an intern with Chevron in a health and safety position in their Renewable Energy Group. Congratulations, Daniel!
Nainika Gupta
University of Colorado- Boulder
Environmental Science
(graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School)
This is the second scholarship award that Nainika has received from the Naperville Garden Club. At Boulder, she is participating in the President’s Leadership Class. As Coordinator, Nainika has honed her ability to choose topics that generate collaboration and drive realistic change in students. Upon graduation, she looks forward to creating positive changes to help create a more sustainable and equitable world for all of us. Congratulations, Nainika!
Emily Lubek
University of Colorado in Boulder
Environmental Studies and Ecology
Emily graduated from Naperville Central High School this spring. In High school, Emily took every environmental science class available as well as floral design. Last summer she had an environmental internship with Accelerate Climate Solutions in Naperville. She created marketing programs inviting youth to participate in sustainable environmental solutions. The group met with Senator Laura Ellman as part of their civic engagement. Upon graduation, Emily plans a career as a scientific consultant regarding the impacts of contaminants and pollution and providing solutions.
Congratulations, Emily!
Eleanor Oster
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Environmental Earth Science
Eleanor graduated from Waubonsie Valley High School this spring. In high school, Eleanor was involved with the Environmental Society, working as part of a team to better the community, with projects like collecting plastic bags and having a recycling program. Eleanor is working towards a career in a non-profit organization such as Ocean Cleanup, World Wide Fund for Nature or the Rainforest Alliance.
Congratulations, Eleanor!
Wyatt Riddle
Southern Illinois University
Environmental Engineering
Wyatt graduated from Naperville Central High School this spring. Wyatt has been a member of Future Farmers of America in high school and has taken many classes relevant to agriculture such as Earth Science, AP Environmental Science, Plant Science and Floral and Landscape Design. These classes enabled him to earn the first Plant Science Diploma Designation in District 203. This summer he will serve an internship at Mayneland Farms. Wyatt plans on helping to create sustainable technologies, for the energy we use to power the digital age or the way we grow and harvest plants. Congratulations, Wyatt!
Daniel “Caleb” Dowd
Iowa State University
Environmental Engineering
(graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School)
This is the second time that Caled will be receiving a scholarship from the Naperville Garden Club. Last summer he participated in a research project on campus analyzing soil strength after vibrations caused by events such as earthquakes and volcanoes, hoping to limit building collapse after such damage. He is a member of Engineers for a Sustainable World, using engineering concepts to make campuses safe and eco-friendly. He will be an intern with Chevron in a health and safety position in their Renewable Energy Group. Congratulations, Daniel!
Nainika Gupta
University of Colorado- Boulder
Environmental Science
(graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School)
This is the second scholarship award that Nainika has received from the Naperville Garden Club. At Boulder, she is participating in the President’s Leadership Class. As Coordinator, Nainika has honed her ability to choose topics that generate collaboration and drive realistic change in students. Upon graduation, she looks forward to creating positive changes to help create a more sustainable and equitable world for all of us. Congratulations, Nainika!
Emily Lubek
University of Colorado in Boulder
Environmental Studies and Ecology
Emily graduated from Naperville Central High School this spring. In High school, Emily took every environmental science class available as well as floral design. Last summer she had an environmental internship with Accelerate Climate Solutions in Naperville. She created marketing programs inviting youth to participate in sustainable environmental solutions. The group met with Senator Laura Ellman as part of their civic engagement. Upon graduation, Emily plans a career as a scientific consultant regarding the impacts of contaminants and pollution and providing solutions.
Congratulations, Emily!
Eleanor Oster
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Environmental Earth Science
Eleanor graduated from Waubonsie Valley High School this spring. In high school, Eleanor was involved with the Environmental Society, working as part of a team to better the community, with projects like collecting plastic bags and having a recycling program. Eleanor is working towards a career in a non-profit organization such as Ocean Cleanup, World Wide Fund for Nature or the Rainforest Alliance.
Congratulations, Eleanor!
Wyatt Riddle
Southern Illinois University
Environmental Engineering
Wyatt graduated from Naperville Central High School this spring. Wyatt has been a member of Future Farmers of America in high school and has taken many classes relevant to agriculture such as Earth Science, AP Environmental Science, Plant Science and Floral and Landscape Design. These classes enabled him to earn the first Plant Science Diploma Designation in District 203. This summer he will serve an internship at Mayneland Farms. Wyatt plans on helping to create sustainable technologies, for the energy we use to power the digital age or the way we grow and harvest plants. Congratulations, Wyatt!