Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award

A national award for emerging leaders in sustainability and community development.

Named for Chatham's most famous alumna, environmental icon Rachel Carson ’29, the Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award is awarded to deserving students nominated from high schools nationally and internationally who embody the spirit of Rachel Carson in their dedication to sustainability and community development. 
  • Eligible students for this award are current high school juniors who have been nominated by a teacher, school counselor, or advisor. Nominated students should have a strong focus on environmental ethics and engagement, social justice, leadership, and stewardship within their community and school.
Nominate a Student Today
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What Winners Receive

  • A special edition of Silent Spring–Carson's groundbreaking 1962 book that helped launch the modern environmental movement
  • A $2,500 merit scholarship (renewable annually) to Chatham University
  • Preferred consideration for the Rachel Carson Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship to Chatham
  • A Certificate of Achievement to commemorate your commitment and bolster your résumé

Photo of Chatham University faculty and students wearing waders, working in the aquaculture lab on the Eden Hall Campus.

A Full Tuition Scholarship

All Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award recipients receive preferred consideration for the Rachel Carson Scholarship, a full tuition scholarship to attend Chatham University. The scholarship is awarded each year to one new, first-year student and one new transfer student from a community college. Applicants must meet all scholarship requirements and be accepted to Chatham in order to qualify for a scholarship interview.

View Scholarship Opportunities : Checkerboard 2 - A Full Tuition Scholarship
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Falk School of Sustainability & Environment

Chatham is one of the top universities in the world for the study of sustainability. Our Falk School of Sustainability & Environment is located on the world’s first campus built from the ground up for the study of sustainability—Eden Hall Campus. Our students focus on the impacts between a wide range of systems and communities, working side-by-side with faculty on projects that make a difference in the world.

Explore Falk School : Checkerboard 3 - Falk School of Sustainability & Environment
Black and white photo of Rachel Carson sitting behind a desk full of books with pen in hand.

About Rachel Carson

Scientist. Author. Environmentalist. Pioneer. Student. Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham University) graduate Rachel Carson '29 rose to prominence with her book, Silent Spring, as a trailblazing voice questioning the resulting impact of pesticides on people, animals, and the environment. Carson's big thinking and devotion to improve the world are just two of the qualities Chatham's Falk School of Sustainability & Environment works to bring to life through its students.

Learn About Rachel Carson : Checkerboard 4 - About Rachel Carson