Applications for our next cohort will open in early 2025.
Meet Past Cohorts of WRISE Wind Power Fellows
Wind Power Fellows receive:
- Free access to ACP’s CLEANPOWER conference*
- Mentoring and networking opportunities
- Professional development programming
- And the chance to learn and collaborate with a peer group of fellows!
*please note: WRISE will cover conference registration, travel, and lodging expenses upfront. Any further expenses incurred related to the fellowship (food, Uber/Lyft, etc.) are eligible for reimbursement. Please note that if you have difficulty paying for any of these items upfront, this will NOT affect your eligibility – please let us know and we will work with you to find a solution!
During the 2 month duration of the fellowship, fellows will be expected to attend the CLEANPOWER conference, as well as pre and post conference virtual meetings. Fellows will be traveling to attend CLEANPOWER in-person; however, the health and safety of our fellows and team remain a top priority. We will continue to be conscious of COVID-19 and implement appropriate safety protocol. Virtual fellowship activities will include networking, professional development and facilitating connections with leaders across the clean energy industry.
Contact fellowships[at]WRISEnergy[dot]org with questions.
Rudd Mayer Fellowship
Each year, Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy awards Wind Power Fellowships in honor of wind industry pioneer Rudd Mayer of Boulder, Colorado, who passed away in 2002. The 2022 fellowship will be a virtual experience, supporting the professional development of this year’s class of fellows.
The Rudd Mayer Memorial Fellowships support the professional development of our fellows, facilitating leaders in the renewable energy field, and connections with employers about potential internships or permanent positions.
Rudd Mayer Fellowship Eligibility
- The fellowship is available to anyone 18 and older identifying as a woman or other marginalized gender
- Both those who are currently enrolled as a student or recent graduate of a college, university, or technical certificate program (including graduate degree programs) are eligible
- Applicants may be interested in any sector of wind energy, including academic, manufacturing, technical, consulting, engineering, finance, and others
- Applicants must be planning to pursue a wind energy career in the United States
Wind at Our Backs Scholarship
In 2016, WRISE launched a new scholarship program that provides a tuition stipend to further the education of women and marginalized genders in wind energy. This scholarship helps to diversify the wind energy workforce, as well as provide greater opportunities for those in the field.
The scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis with a target of granting three-to-five scholarships each year. Recipients will be selected using same criteria as the Rudd Mayer Fellowship in addition to being actively enrolled in a wind technician or similar program at an accredited college, university, or vocational institution.
Wind at Our Backs Scholarship Eligibility
- The scholarship is available to anyone 18 and older identifying as a woman or other marginalized gender
- Only those who are currently enrolled as a student of a wind technician or similar program at an accredited college, university, or vocational institution are eligible
- Applicants must be planning to pursue a wind energy career in the United States
How to Apply
Please note: Applications are due by February 26, 2023. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
You will need to have the materials listed below ready in PDF document form to upload into the system.
Application materials must include:
- Current resume or professional vitae
- Essay (approx. 500-1000 words) describing why you are interested in the Fellowship, highlights of academic and work history, experience in wind and renewable energy, career goal(s), and how the Fellowship will benefit you, your community, campus, and/or organization.
- Academic transcript (official or unofficial)
- At least one Letter of Recommendation.*
*Letters of Recommendation must be emailed directly to fellowships@WRISEnergy.org – be sure the Applicant’s name is included in the subject line and the document is in PDF form.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Both the Wind at Our Backs scholarship and the Rudd Mayer Fellowship use the same application form. Please complete the Rudd Mayer/Wind At our Backs Application and check your eligibility. Any applicants not selected for the Wind At Our Backs scholarship will automatically be included in the pool of applicants for the Rudd Mayer Fellowship.
Applications for our 2023 cohort are now closed.
Selection Process
Fellowships and scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. Fellows are selected by the WRISE Fellowship Committee, based on:
- a demonstrated interest in renewable energy
- academic achievement
- work and volunteer experience
- potential for future contributions to the U.S. renewable energy community
- financial need
Meet our previous Wind Power Fellows here:
The Wind at Our Back Scholarship is made possible with the generous support of
