A love of Lake Hopatcong can net two graduating high school seniors $1,000 each, as the deadline approaches for the Lake Hopatcong Foundation’s 2017 scholarship program.

“A special place or landscape can have a huge impact on students as they look ahead to their future studies and careers,” said Lake Hopatcong Foundation Executive Director Donna Macalle-Holly. “By investing in young people’s education, the Lake Hopatcong Foundation believes we are not only supporting the youth in our community but also investing in the future of Lake Hopatcong and all valuable freshwater resources.”

The $1,000 scholarships will be awarded in two categories, each of which relates to the work of the foundation and its mission. The two categories are The Lake Environment, which is awarded to a student who plans to study environmental science, environmental policy, ecology, or a similar field that focuses on the natural world and environmental conservation; and The Lake Experience, which is awarded to a college- or trade school-bound student who plans to go into a field that is related to the lake experience, which includes public safety, marine trade, aquatic athletics, or a similar field.

The scholarships will be a one-time gift, given to a senior in high school who is a resident (year-round or seasonal) of one of the four towns that surround Lake Hopatcong. The deadline for applications to be submitted is Mon., May 1. Applications can be downloaded at www.lakehopatcongfoundation.org.

Information and applications were submitted to the guidance departments at all three local public high schools (Hopatcong, Jefferson, and Roxbury); however, the scholarships are open to students at any high school, as long as they have a full-time or part-time residence in one of the lake towns.