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ISA Certification Scholarships Gaining Ground
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Lindsey Bowman
Certification Marketing Coordinator
International Society of Arboriculture
217-355-9411, EXT. 17
lbowman@isa-arbor.com
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and U.S. Forest Service Certified Arborist Scholarship Continues to Gain Ground across the Country
CHAMPAIGN, IL (June 2,2005) Since the Certified Arborist scholarship program was launched last December in three initial states, it has been gaining momentum and has a total of eleven participating states. With funding provided by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, ISA is awarding 250 scholarships covering fees involved in earning the ISA Certified Arborist credential.
Currently, the scholarship is available in Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon and Washington, with additional states expected to come on board. This grant program is targeted to communities without enough resources to hire a municipal arborist or urban forester, or where there is not already an ISA Certified Arborist working with the local community.
"We are delighted to be able to help support urban forestry coordinators' efforts in states across the country," said Derek Vannice, Director of ISA Certification. "Award winners are giving back to the community in a variety of projects of their choosing, such as educating local home owner associations about proper tree care, holding pruning workshops, and conducting education programs with school children, among others," he added.
State Urban and Community Forestry (UCF)Coordinators are vital to the improvement of tree care in many communities. Unfortunately, there are more communities in need of training and education than can be addressed by the resources currently available at the state level. The goal of the program is to provide the State UCF coordinators with more trained individuals that can help them educate communities on proper tree planting and preservation.
ISA will cover the cost of the exam, membership to the ISA and local chapter, a chapter training workshop and exam study guide. In exchange, once the individual has passed the exam, the newly certified arborist will donate 80 hours of time to train and educate volunteers, schools and government officials on proper tree care.
In participating states, any arborist working for a private tree company, a tree company contracting with any government entity, or the municipality is eligible. Those wishing to apply or nominate someone can check with ISA Certificaton to dertermine if their state is participating. The nominations will be reviewed and the scholarships awarded by ISA in consultation with the State UCF Coordinators based on community needs. Candidates must meet the necessary experience requirement to become a certified arborist in order to apply and can review ISA's Certified Arborist application online at www.isa-arbor.com or by contacting the ISA certification department at cert@isa-arbor.com or (217) 355-9411.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research around the world, offers the only internationally-recognized certification program in the industry. ISA has been certifying arborists for more than a decade in order to improve the level of overall knowledge, to develop and implement standardized tree care practices.
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