West Virginia · State Grant

Youth Environmental Program (YEP) Awards

Funding

$15,000+ in awards and scholarships annually

Grade Focus

K-12

Application Due

Annual — check dep.wv.gov

Level of Gov't

State — WV Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP)

Eligibility

West Virginia K-12 students working on environmental projects. Teachers and schools can support student entries. Projects focused on conservation, pollution prevention, energy, and environmental science are encouraged.

Program Goals

YEP awards recognize WV students who take action to protect and improve their environment. Projects that use technology and data collection to address environmental issues are a strong fit.

Read the Grant

Application and Distribution

Students submit project entries through the WVDEP YEP program. Teachers and schools support student participation. Check dep.wv.gov/oe for the current cycle and entry requirements.

Cycle Notes

Annual award cycle. Check dep.wv.gov/oe/Pages/yep.aspx for current deadlines and categories.

Grant Award Amount

$15,000+ total in cash awards and a college scholarship distributed across multiple award categories. Individual awards vary by category and grade level.

Allowable Purchases

Forward Education Products for This Grant

These kits align to the learning outcomes this program funds.

Climate Action Kit — a beginner-friendly STEM kit combining micro:bit sensors to code solutions for climate change and sustainability
Smart Solar Energy Kit — build and program a working solar panel to measure real-time power generation and explore renewable energy
Forward Education Learning Platform — curriculum-aligned STEM lessons, coding tutorials, career profiles, and PD courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter the YEP Awards?

West Virginia K-12 students working on environmental projects. Teachers can support and organize student entries.

What types of projects win?

Conservation, pollution prevention, energy efficiency, and environmental science projects. Technology-driven data collection and monitoring projects are competitive.

What is the scholarship award?

YEP includes a college scholarship in addition to cash prizes. Check dep.wv.gov for current scholarship amounts.

How can my class participate?

Teachers organize student entries as part of a class or club project. Our Climate Action and Smart Solar kits support the type of environmental data collection that wins YEP awards.