Our 2026 Scholarship Season is now open! Click Here to learn more and apply. (Deadline: June 15, 2026)

AFA Scholarships

Now Closed

Don Bell & Associate Member Scholarships

The 2026 Scholarsips deadline has now passed. The scholarship period for 2027 will be announced in February. Please check back then for more information and details on how to apply.

Congratulations to our 2026 Recipients:

AFA Scholarship Awards

2026 Eligibility Requirements

The Alaska Forest Association (AFA) Associate Members will award scholarships in 2026 to eligible recipients. The goal of the Associate Members is to award one or more scholarships in 2026 to assist students in attaining a post-secondary education.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Any student that has a parent employed by an AFA Associate Member company or is employed by an Associate Member company.

2. The applicant is enrolled or is enrolling full time in an academic institution for the next school year beginning in the fall of 2026.

3. The applicant may be a senior in high school and/or be enrolled or is enrolling in an accredited Vocational-Technical Program.

4. Students who have been out of school for over one year prior to the date of application are not eligible.

5. Includes postgraduate studies and research

6. Award winners will receive $1,000-$7,500

7. Previous award winners may apply!

Application Procedure

A portfolio must be received via the form below, on or before 5:00pm AK Standard Time (AKST) on June 15, 2026, and must include all the following attachments:

  • An application form. (Included below.)
  • Official school transcript or if a transcript is not available, include grade information of at least seven semesters and your rank in your class. (Must be signed by a school official.)
  • A recommendation from a teacher.
  • A recommendation from a person in your community. (Not a relative.)
  • Autobiography – Use this section to describe yourself, your plans, and your goals.
  • Short Essay – Use this essay to demonstrate your knowledge of the forest products industry to the selection committee.

The following questions should be answered through your essay:

    • How has the forest products industry influenced your life?
    • What does the forest products industry mean to you?
    • What effect, if any, have national issues, politics, and economics had on Alaska’s forest products industry?
    • How will Alaska’s forest products industry influence your future?
    • How will your future education and career plans positively impact Alaska’s forest products industry?

The Alaska Forest Association (AFA) will award scholarships through the Don Bell Alaska Loggers Scholarship program in 2026 to eligible recipients. The goal of the AFA is to award one or more scholarships in 2026 to assist students in attaining a post-secondary education.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Applicant must have a parent/grandparent who is employed by an AFA Regular Member company or be employed by an AFA Regular Member company.

2. Applicant must be enrolling in an academic institution for the next school year beginning in the fall of 2026.

3. Previous Don Bell Scholarship recipients now enrolled in any college or accredited vocational-technical program are eligible to apply if criteria #1 and #2 above are met. An applicant may receive no more than four total Don Bell Scholarship awards.

4. Includes postgraduate studies and research

5. Award winners will receive $1,000-$7,500

6. Previous award winners may apply!

*Prior year scholarship recipients must provide new application information.

Application Procedure

A portfolio must be received via the form below, on or before 5 pm AK Standard Time (AKST) on June 15, 2026, and must include all the following attachments:

  • An application form. (Included below.)
  • Official school transcript or if a transcript is not available, include grade information of at least seven semesters and your rank in your class. (Must be signed by a school official.)
  • A recommendation from a teacher.
  • A recommendation from a person in your community. (Not a relative.)
  • Autobiography – Use this section to describe yourself, your plans, and your goals.
  • Short Essay – Use this essay to demonstrate your knowledge of the forest products industry to the selection committee.

The following questions should be answered through your essay:

    • How has the forest products industry influenced your life?
    • What does the forest products industry mean to you?
    • What effect, if any, have national issues, politics and economics had on Alaska’s forest products industry?
    • How will Alaska’s forest products industry influence your future?
    • How will your future education and career plans positively impact Alaska’s forest products industry?


*For those reapplying, submission of prior year application essays will disqualify applicants.

AFA Associate Members' Scholarship Award

The Alaska Forest Association (AFA) Associate Members will award scholarships in 2026 to eligible recipients. The goal of the Associate Members is to award one or more scholarships in 2026 to assist students in attaining a post-secondary education.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Any student that has a parent employed by an AFA Associate Member company or is employed by an Associate Member company.

2. The applicant is enrolled or is enrolling full time in an academic institution for the next school year beginning in the fall of 2026.

3. The applicant may be a senior in high school and/or be enrolled or is enrolling in an accredited Vocational-Technical Program.

4. Students who have been out of school for over one year prior to the date of application are not eligible.

5. Includes postgraduate studies and research

6. Award winners will receive $1,000-$7,500

7. Previous award winners may apply!

Application Procedure

A portfolio must be received via the form below, on or before 5:00pm AK Standard Time (AKST) on June 15, 2026, and must include all the following attachments:

  • An application form. (Included below.)
  • Official school transcript or if a transcript is not available, include grade information of at least seven semesters and your rank in your class. (Must be signed by a school official.)
  • A recommendation from a teacher.
  • A recommendation from a person in your community. (Not a relative.)
  • Autobiography – Use this section to describe yourself, your plans, and your goals.
  • Short Essay – Use this essay to demonstrate your knowledge of the forest products industry to the selection committee.

The following questions should be answered through your essay:

    • How has the forest products industry influenced your life?
    • What does the forest products industry mean to you?
    • What effect, if any, have national issues, politics, and economics had on Alaska’s forest products industry?
    • How will Alaska’s forest products industry influence your future?
    • How will your future education and career plans positively impact Alaska’s forest products industry?
Don Bell Alaska Loggers Scholarship Award

The Alaska Forest Association (AFA) will award scholarships through the Don Bell Alaska Loggers Scholarship program in 2026 to eligible recipients. The goal of the AFA is to award one or more scholarships in 2026 to assist students in attaining a post-secondary education.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Applicant must have a parent/grandparent who is employed by an AFA Regular Member company or be employed by an AFA Regular Member company.

2. Applicant must be enrolling in an academic institution for the next school year beginning in the fall of 2026.

3. Previous Don Bell Scholarship recipients now enrolled in any college or accredited vocational-technical program are eligible to apply if criteria #1 and #2 above are met. An applicant may receive no more than four total Don Bell Scholarship awards.

4. Includes postgraduate studies and research

5. Award winners will receive $1,000-$7,500

6. Previous award winners may apply!

*Prior year scholarship recipients must provide new application information.

Application Procedure

A portfolio must be received via the form below, on or before 5 pm AK Standard Time (AKST) on June 15, 2026, and must include all the following attachments:

  • An application form. (Included below.)
  • Official school transcript or if a transcript is not available, include grade information of at least seven semesters and your rank in your class. (Must be signed by a school official.)
  • A recommendation from a teacher.
  • A recommendation from a person in your community. (Not a relative.)
  • Autobiography – Use this section to describe yourself, your plans, and your goals.
  • Short Essay – Use this essay to demonstrate your knowledge of the forest products industry to the selection committee.

The following questions should be answered through your essay:

    • How has the forest products industry influenced your life?
    • What does the forest products industry mean to you?
    • What effect, if any, have national issues, politics and economics had on Alaska’s forest products industry?
    • How will Alaska’s forest products industry influence your future?
    • How will your future education and career plans positively impact Alaska’s forest products industry?


*For those reapplying, submission of prior year application essays will disqualify applicants.

AFA Scholarship Awards

Scholarship Application Form

Submit completed application and all required attachments via the form below between May 19 & June 15, 2026 by 5:00pm AK Standard Time.

Please direct questions to: afa@akforest.org

Award Ceremony Information (If Known):
Please upload the following documents in PDF format:
• School Transcript or Grade Information (As outlined above.)
• A recommendation from a teacher.
• A recommendation from a person in your community. (Not a relative.)
• Autobiography (As outlined above.)
• Short Essay (As outlined above.)