Bonnie Cardone Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Women Divers Hall of Fame

Description
**Purpose and scope**
The Women Divers Hall of Fame (WDHOF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that recognizes and raises awareness of outstanding women divers while supporting the global diving community. As part of its mission, WDHOF provides educational, mentorship, financial, and career opportunities and makes annual scholarship and training grant awards. The scholarship described here targets practitioners in visual and media arts who intend to apply their skills to ocean-related causes. This article summarizes eligibility, award details, acceptable and unacceptable uses, and application guidance.

Key takeaways:
- WDHOF is a nonprofit focused on honoring and supporting women divers.
- The organization offers annual scholarships and training grants.
- This specific scholarship supports media/journalism skills applied to ocean work.
- The award is part of WDHOF’s broader educational and career programming.

Eligibility
**Who may apply**
The scholarship is open to a woman diver who is enrolled in a degree-granting undergraduate or graduate program at an institution in the United States or Canada. Eligible fields are journalism, graphic arts, photography, or videography. Applicants must intend to use their education or training to better serve the ocean environment or ocean community. Enrollment status and the applicant’s demonstrable plan to apply their studies to ocean-related work are central to eligibility.

Key takeaways:
- Applicant must be a woman diver.
- Must be enrolled in an accredited degree program in the U.S. or Canada.
- Eligible disciplines: journalism, graphic arts, photography, videography.
- Applicant must plan to use training to benefit the ocean environment or community.

Award Value
**Amount and frequency**
One scholarship of $1,500 will be awarded. The award is a single scholarship designated for the stated eligible candidate and is distributed according to WDHOF procedures. The scholarship amount is intended to offset specific education- or training-related expenses that support the applicant’s ocean-focused media or journalism work. Recipients should plan project or training budgets that align with the $1,500 limit.

Key takeaways:
- Single award: $1,500.
- One recipient per award cycle.
- Funds are intended for targeted education/training expenses.
- Budget proposals should respect the $1,500 cap.

Permitted Uses
**Allowed expenses and activities**
The scholarship may be applied to direct education and training activities such as tuition for coursework, participation fees for photography/videography/journalism workshops, or costs associated with internships at accredited universities. The emphasis is on experiences that build media and communications skills relevant to ocean-focused work. Equipment purchases are generally excluded unless they are specifically required for the proposed research or project and are justified within the application. Recipients should document how the chosen use will advance both their skills and benefits to the ocean community.

Key takeaways:
- Acceptable uses: tuition, workshop fees, accredited university internships.
- Emphasis on practical training that advances ocean-related media work.
- Equipment may be allowed only with specific, justified research need.
- Applications should link the expense to measurable skill/outcome for ocean benefit.

Prohibited Uses
**Expenses not covered**
The scholarship cannot be used for student loan repayments, housing or living expenses, or expenses already incurred prior to the award. General dive equipment purchases are not covered. Cameras and similar gear are also excluded unless the items are essential to a proposed research project and justified in the application. Applicants should avoid proposing uses that fall into these prohibited categories.

Key takeaways:
- Not allowed: student loan payments, housing/living costs, prior expenses.
- General dive equipment is excluded.
- Cameras are prohibited unless explicitly justified for research.
- Proposals relying on these expense types will be disqualified.

Application Requirements
**What to include in the application**
Applicants must provide a clear, specific plan describing how the scholarship funds will be used, including the activities, timeline, and expected outcomes. The application should explain how the planned use of funds will directly contribute to serving the ocean environment or the ocean community. Justification is required for any equipment requests tied to research, and budget details should align with the $1,500 award. Clear, outcome-focused proposals improve the likelihood of selection.

Key takeaways:
- Applications must specify planned use, timeline, and expected outcomes.
- Explain how the activity will benefit the ocean environment/community.
- Provide justification for any equipment requested, tied to research needs.
- Include a concise budget consistent with the $1,500 award.

Application Timeline
**When to apply**
WDHOF awards scholarships and training grants on an annual basis; applicants should consult WDHOF’s official channels for current deadlines and submission procedures. Planning ahead is important to secure advisor approvals, internship placements, or workshop registrations that may have separate deadlines. Because the award is intended for specific upcoming training or academic activities, align your application timing with the start dates of those activities. Always verify the latest timeline and application details on the WDHOF website before submitting.

Key takeaways:
- Scholarships are awarded annually.
- Check WDHOF’s official website for current deadlines and procedures.
- Coordinate application timing with the start dates of planned activities.
- Confirm any external deadlines for workshops or internships before applying.