Outdoor Writers Association of America

The Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) annually sponsors the Bodie McDowell Scholarship program to support tomorrow’s communicators. 

Named in honor of a former OWAA president, the scholarships reward outstanding undergraduate and graduate students who are involved in and preparing to devote a substantial amount of their life’s work in outdoor writing, radio and television, wildlife photography, art, lecturing or video and film making. 

Ideal candidates are talented communicators with outdoor interests who can demonstrate a record of accomplishment in and commitment to the fields of outdoor communications. 

This is a competitive awards process. Each candidate should have clear, significant goals in outdoor communications, examples of work and letters of recommendation. Judges look for applicants with talent, promise and firsthand outdoor knowledge. Applications are rated on clarity, organization and originality. Grade-point average is also considered but is not among the top three selection criteria.

Many past scholarship winners have become well-known professionals, including the first recipient who later became president of OWAA.

Scholarship distribution varies, but individual awards can range from $1,000 to $5,000. Awardees also receive a complimentary one-year student membership in OWAA.

Your first step is to create a FREE Submittable account, which allows access to the Bodie McDowell Scholarship application form. Applications must be submitted using this online form.

The Bodie McDowell Scholarship Fund is an endowment that thrives primarily through member contributions and fundraising efforts to support the annual grant. Funds are invested and managed by OWAA Endowment trustees. Donations to the fund can be made at https://owaa.org/store/donation/. 

(If you experience technical difficulties completing this form, please contact support@submittable.com or info@owaa.org.)

The Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA)  established the John Madson Fellowship as part of its commitment to improve the professional skills of outdoor communicators.
The grant program is open to OWAA members as well as non-members.
In 2023, OWAA will award up to $3,000 to selected individuals seeking to enhance their abilities as writers, photographers, videographers, broadcasters, etc. The money can be used to attend OWAA's annual conference, college courses or professional seminars and can be applied to tuition, registration, room and board costs, as well as qualifying travel expenses.
To apply, create a FREE Submittable account, which allows access to the John Madson Fellowship application form. Applications must be submitted using this online form.
Applicants must include an explanation of their need and proposal for continuing education, an itemized budget of miscellaneous expenses, and include a sample of their work (published article or photos, tape of broadcast program, etc.).
The application deadline is March 31, 2023. A committee of OWAA members will select and announce recipients, and confirm spending amounts, by the end of April 2023. Grants are distributed as reimbursements for expenses incurred by the recipient(s).
The annual grant program is named in honor of one of OWAA's most talented and respected writers. The Madson Fellowship Fund is an endowment that thrives primarily through member contributions and fundraising efforts to support the annual grant. Funds are invested and managed by OWAA Endowment trustees.
Donations to the John Madson Fellowship Fund can be made at https://owaa.org/store/donation/.
(If you experience technical difficulties completing this form, please contact support@submittable.com or info@owaa.org.)