USA Scholarships
CASFM Undergraduate Scholarship 2027 - $5,000 CO
The CASFM Undergraduate Scholarship promotes stormwater and floodplain careers among Colorado engineering students. CASFM has $5,000 available for one recipient in the 2026-27 academic year. You must study civil engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, watershed management, or another program aligned with CASFM goals at a Colorado college or university, carry at least 10 credit hours each semester, and be at sophomore level or above. Submit the full application package by 2 November 2026, including a 500-word essay on your career goals.
What is the CASFM Undergraduate Scholarship?
The Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers funds this undergraduate scholarship to pull talented engineers into floodplain and stormwater work. CASFM members manage some of the trickiest water problems on the Front Range, from post-wildfire hydrology to urban runoff, and the award signals that the profession wants young people in those pipelines early.
The scholarship started with support from the Urban Watersheds Research Institute and still targets civil engineering students who understand why flood maps and detention ponds matter to real neighborhoods. One student receives $5,000 for the 2026-27 year, which is modest compared with national merit awards but meaningful for Colorado tuition and field gear.
CASFM does not mail out checks to everyone who fills out a form. Reviewers short-list three applicants, read your 500-word essay carefully, and schedule short interviews in mid-November. Preference can go to local candidates, so mention Colorado projects if you have them, whether that is a campus hydrology lab, a municipal internship, or volunteer work after a flood event.
Winners also get a professional stage. Accepting the award at the CASFM Conference lunch unlocks registration and three nights of lodging, which is a practical way to meet practitioners before you graduate. Mark 2 November 2026 on your calendar and treat the essay like a job interview on paper.
Eligibility
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✓Colorado college enrollmentYou must be enrolled in an undergraduate program at a college or university in Colorado that aligns with CASFM goals. Out-of-state online programs or schools outside Colorado do not meet the residency-of-institution rule.
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✓Sophomore, junior, or senior standingFirst-year freshmen are not eligible. You should be in at least your second year of undergraduate study when you apply for the 2026-27 award.
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✓Qualifying major or focusEligible fields include civil engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, hydraulics, watershed management, floodplain management, stormwater management, stormwater quality, emergency response, meteorology, and climatology, plus closely related programs listed on the CASFM page.
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✓Minimum course loadYou must register for at least 10 credit hours of coursework per semester. CASFM uses this rule to confirm you are progressing as a full-time student.
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✓No prior CASFM undergraduate awardPrevious recipients of the CASFM Undergraduate Scholarship may not apply again. Other CASFM family scholarships may have separate rules.
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✓Local preference in short-listingCASFM may give preference to local applicants when choosing the three interview finalists. Strong ties to Colorado communities can help at the short-list stage even though the written criteria focus on academics and goals.
Benefits
- Scholarship amount $5,000 paid by check to the student
- CASFM Conference option Registration plus three nights lodging at 2027 conference
- Disbursement timing Funds after selection by 1 December 2026
- Number of awards One undergraduate recipient per cycle
- Renewability Prior undergraduate winners may not reapply
- Graduate tuition Undergraduate award only
- Travel beyond conference lodging Not specified beyond three conference nights
Document checklist
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✓CASFM undergraduate application formComplete the official Undergraduate Scholarship application linked from casfm.org. Missing fields or late packets are not considered.
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✓500-word career goals essayAttach an essay up to 500 words describing your personal and career goals and how they connect to CASFM's mission in stormwater and floodplain management.
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✓Proof of enrollment and credit loadShow that you are registered for at least 10 credit hours and hold sophomore-or-above standing at a Colorado institution. An unofficial schedule plus transcript excerpt often works if the application requests it.
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✓Academic transcript or grade summaryProvide current grades so reviewers can judge progress in engineering or water-related coursework.
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✓Resume or activities listHighlight research, ASCE involvement, internships with water utilities, volunteer flood recovery work, or other experiences tied to CASFM fields.
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✓Conference attendance commitment (if selected)Winners may attend the 2027 CASFM Conference with registration and three nights of lodging covered if they accept the award at the annual lunch meeting.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
How much is the CASFM Undergraduate Scholarship?
CASFM awards $5,000 to one undergraduate student for the 2026-27 academic year. The committee sends payment by check directly to the student after selection. The winner may also receive conference registration and three nights of lodging at the 2027 CASFM Conference when accepting the award at the annual lunch.
Who can apply for the CASFM Undergraduate Scholarship?
You must be a sophomore, junior, or senior enrolled at a Colorado college or university in civil engineering or a related water-resources field, registered for at least 10 credit hours per semester. Previous CASFM undergraduate scholarship recipients cannot apply again.
When is the CASFM scholarship application deadline?
Finished application packages must be received by 2 November 2026. Finalists hear back by 13 November 2026, interviews happen in mid-November, and the successful candidate is notified by 1 December 2026.
What majors qualify for CASFM undergraduate funding?
Eligible programs include civil engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, hydraulics, watershed management, floodplain management, stormwater management, stormwater quality, emergency response, meteorology, and climatology, along with other fields closely tied to CASFM goals listed on the official page.
Do I have to attend the CASFM Conference?
Conference attendance is optional but encouraged. Registration and three nights of lodging are included if you commit to accepting the scholarship at the CASFM annual lunch during the 2027 conference.
Does CASFM prefer local Colorado applicants?
The selection process short-lists three applicants based on the application and essay, then holds interviews. CASFM states that preference may be given to local applicants during short-listing, so highlight Colorado community or project ties when relevant.
Can freshmen apply for the CASFM Undergraduate Scholarship?
No. Applicants must be at the sophomore level or above. You also need at least 10 credit hours per semester and enrollment at a Colorado institution in a qualifying major.
How do I contact CASFM about the scholarship?
Questions go to CASFM at [email protected] or the Lakewood, Colorado address listed on casfm.org. Always use the Undergraduate Scholarship page for the current application file and deadline confirmation.
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