The Lars Stratte Forestry & Environmental Science Scholarship Endowment was established in memory of Lars Stratte, a dedicated air tanker pilot who lost his life while battling a wildfire in Northern California. Lars, a former resident of Humboldt and Shasta Counties, was killed when his aircraft collided midair with another tanker during active firefighting; both pilots perished in the accident.

Recipients of the scholarship should demonstrate a strong interest in one or more of the following areas: forest stewardship, sustainable resource management, and environmental conservation and resilience—values that reflect Lars’s own service and dedication.