Carolina Eco Innovators Scholarship

Morgan Long • January 6, 2023

Carolina Eco Innovators Scholarship 2023 is Open!

Competition Overview


It's that time again, the Carolina Eco-Innovators Scholarship application is open!

Competition Overview:

The “Shark Tank” style scholarship competition for local high school students who have an innovative idea to tackle an environmental problem facing our region is back! Applicants are invited to submit their solution to an environmental problem our local communities face. Submissions will include a written and a video component. The finalists will work with a mentor from their corresponding nonprofit to prepare a final presentation of their plan. Final presentations will be held on stage in front of an audience and a panel of judges, who will determine the winners of the scholarships. The final event will be hosted in March 2023.


Timeline:


Submissions accepted: December 1st, 2022 – January 31st, 2023


Submissions evaluated: February 1st, 2023 – February 14th, 2023


Finalists notified by: February 15th, 2023


Final Presentation: March 21st, 2023


Grand Prize - $4,000 Scholarship

First Runner-up - $2,000 Scholarship

Second Runner-up - $1,000 Scholarship

Audience Vote Winner - $500 Scholarship


Eligibility:

Local high school students that are residents from the following counties are eligible to compete.

North Carolina: Alexander, Catawba, Lincoln, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Rowan, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Union, Stanly

South Carolina: York, Lancaster, Chester


Submission form here


Full rules here



Apply Here!

What is Swim Guide?

By Madison Washington • July 23, 2026
Whether you're planning a day at the lake or a weekend on the river, knowing if the water is safe for swimming is an important part of any outdoor adventure. Today, that information is only a few clicks away thanks to Swim Guide, a program that has grown from a local initiative into the world's largest recreational water quality network.

Rocky Shoals Spider Lily: Restoration

By Madison Washington • July 7, 2026
The rocky shoals spider lily (Hymenocallis occidentalis) is a rare aquatic flowering plant characterized by its distinctive crown-like membrane called the "corona." The flower features six spider-leg-like extensions attached to the corona, along with six stamens. Each plant grows to about 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide in direct sunlight, with multiple blooms on a single stalk.

All About Alligator Weed

By Madison Washington • June 11, 2026
Native to South America, alligator weed has become a widespread invasive species along the East Coast, rapidly spreading through waterways, wetlands, and shorelines. Its aggressive growth disrupts ecosystems by outcompeting native vegetation, reducing habitat quality for wildlife, and creating challenges for recreation, water management, and local communities.