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!

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One Year Later: Catawba Riverkeeper’s Response to Hurricane Helene

By Brandon Jones • September 26, 2025

This month marks the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene, a storm that brought unprecedented flooding, infrastructure damage, and public health challenges across the Southeast, including the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. In the days, weeks, and months following the disaster, the Catawba Riverkeeper mobilized to provide relief and to help communities recover. Today, we reflect on those efforts and recommit to the work of building resilience for the future. Supply Distribution In the immediate aftermath, Catawba Riverkeeper coordinated with local partners to deliver emergency supplies to affected communities. Teams transported bottled water, food staples, hygiene kits, and cleaning materials donated by the public to supply hubs and airports. These efforts ensured that essential resources reached households experiencing prolonged disruptions in basic services.