Jim Wadsworth

The James D. Wadsworth Endowed Scholarship will continue to open more doors for College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) undergrads, thanks to another substantial gift. This educational opportunity is supported by Auburn University alumnus Jim Wadsworth so that CFWE undergraduates may share his appreciation for wildlife and the environment.

Wadsworth has served with The Nature Conservancy since 1996 and supported other conservational efforts, such as reintroducing mussel species and creating an easement adjacent to the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge.

In 2018, Wadsworth was awarded the Land Conservationist of the Year by the Alabama Wildlife Federation. More recently, the Alabama chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals awarded him the National Philanthropy Day Award.

“I believe this endowment will help others to appreciate our natural heritage and protect these special places for future generations,” Wadsworth said. “As an Auburn graduate, I believe investing in Auburn University scholarships will always be a winner.”

Wadsworth was raised in Tuskegee, Alabama, where he worked on a farm raising cattle, building fences, bailing hay and completing other farm chores. During his time in agriculture, he gained an appreciation for the environment and the creatures that call it home.

“I enjoyed seeing the different seasons of the year come and go,” Wadsworth said. “Observing the plants and animals of the natural world is a very enjoyable experience.”

He received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Auburn and has established scholarships in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, the Chilton County Auburn Club and, more recently, the CFWE — creating the James D. Wadsworth Endowed Scholarship.

For a student to be eligible for this scholarship endowment, he or she must be enrolled in the CFWE with a declared major in Wildlife Ecology and Management. The undergraduate is also preferred to reside in one of the southeastern states. However, if a student from these states cannot be identified, the scholarship will be awarded to another qualified student.

Students who receive this scholarship will be allotted funding for one academic year. Prior recipients of the endowment may also be considered in subsequent years.

Janaki Alavalapati, the Emmett F. Thompson Dean of the CFWE, shares his gratitude for this educational endowment.

“Our students are provided many educational opportunities through generous gifts,” said Alavalapati. “Alumni donations like the Wadsworth Scholarship Endowment for Wildlife are special because they demonstrate the impact of an Auburn education. We sincerely thank Jim and his family for their generosity.”

For more information about CFWE undergraduate award opportunities, visit the undergraduate student awards and scholarships section of the CFWE website, www.cfwe.auburn.edu.