The LandCare Education Assistance Foundation (LEAF) has awarded scholarships to 22 new students for the 2026-2027 academic year, continuing its investment in first-generation college students whose parents are LandCare team members. Combined with returning recipients, the program will support 53 students as they pursue higher education and career goals.
The 2026 scholarship recipients represent a wide range of academic interests and career aspirations. From engineering and business to environmental science, healthcare and education, these students are pursuing degrees across diverse fields of study. As the program continues to grow, its earliest recipients are beginning to graduate, with six students having now completed their post-secondary education since LEAF launched in 2022.
LEAF supports students long before they begin college. From delivering monthly books through Leafy Library to helping high school students navigate college applications, essays and financial aid, the foundation provides support at every stage. That support continues through the LandCare Scholarship Program, guidance in identifying additional scholarship opportunities and continued support as students work toward earning their degrees.
“One of the most rewarding parts of LEAF is supporting students throughout their academic journey,” says Camila Alvarez, program director for LEAF. “Helping students navigate college applications, celebrating their acceptance letters and calling to tell them they’ve been selected for a scholarship are some of the most rewarding moments of this work. Watching first-generation college students and their families achieve goals they once thought were out of reach is what makes LEAF so meaningful.”
Including $135,000 this year, LEAF has awarded $369,500 in scholarships since the program launched in 2022.
“Education has the power to change lives, but financial barriers can stand in the way of that opportunity,” says Mike Bogan, CEO of LandCare. “LEAF exists to help remove those barriers so students can pursue their goals with confidence. Every scholarship represents an investment in a student’s future and in the families who have supported them along the way.”
These scholarships are funded through the donations of fellow LandCare team members and the general public. LandCare sees this program as an opportunity for those who have enjoyed more success in their lives to give back to other team members.
