Scholarship Criteria
​
Humboldt Area Foundation Scholarship Description
​
Origin: Humboldt County high school, Cal Poly Humboldt, or College of the Redwoods
Level: Graduating high school senior or first year college student
Destination: Cal Poly Humboldt or College of the Redwoods
Enrollment: Full-time or part-time
Field of Study: Any field can qualify (but demonstration of ongoing concern for environmental protection is important)
Important: Demonstrated activism and continuing passion for protecting the environment.
Additional Essay: Write about your hopes and personal commitment to environmental activism.
About the Scholarship
The David Nathan “Gypsy” Chain Memorial Scholarship is now accepting applications from high school seniors and first year students at Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods.
The scholarship honors the memory of David Nathan "Gypsy" Chain, a 24-year-old forest activist who was killed in 1998 while trying to prevent illegal logging near Grizzly Creek in the Van Duzen River valley. The annual $1000 scholarship has been awarded since 2019 to a student who has demonstrated commitment to forest and environmental protection through volunteer, activist, or academic work. The Humboldt Area Foundation administers the scholarship, advised by a local scholarship committee.
​​
Rabbi Naomi Steinberg, who helped establish the scholarship, explained in 2018, “This scholarship fund is very important to me. Twenty years ago David lost his life near my home in Carlotta, and I had the honor of speaking at his funeral in Texas, a heart-wrenching event. He was a wonderful young man, deeply loved, and sorely missed all these years. The scholarship is an opportunity for healing and comfort for his family and friends, and for all of us who were touched by his death.”
​
Apply for the scholarship now through the Humboldt Area Foundation! High school seniors planning to attend Cal Poly Humboldt or College of the Redwoods, and first year students who will continue at either college, are eligible to apply. Applications for 2025/2026 close March 3, 2025. The recipient will be announced in June.
​
Fundraising efforts for the scholarship are ongoing toward a goal of $25,000, which will fund the scholarship in perpetuity. Make a tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship.