DDWS awards over $33K for environmental studies scholarships
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) awarded $33,200 in conservation education scholarships to 14 students from the surrounding five-county area. During its 20-year history, the DDWS Environmental Scholarship Program has awarded a total of $327,800.
“The society is committed to educating today’s youth to become future conservation stewards,” DDWS Education Committee Chair Nancy Felker said. “We partner with businesses, families and individuals to provide annual scholarships to award to outstanding students pursuing degrees related to conservation, wildlife biology, environmental engineering, policy and science.”
The scholarship donors and recipients include:
– Mary Elaine Jacobson Memorial Scholarship: Tori Guarino
– Jane Werner Environmental Scholarships: Rachel Rainbolt and Sarah Swiersz
– Dr. H. Randall Deming Scholarship for Conservation and Environmental Studies: Izabella Smolnicka-Dos Santos
– Kent and Sharon Jager Scholarship: Carter Oleckna
– Dr. Andrew and Laura Dahlem Scholarship: Macy Noll
– Win and Marilyn Kloosterman Scholarships: Genevieve Bailey and Stacy Sanderlin
– Hans and Leslie Fleischner Scholarships: Grayce Garthoeffner and Juliana Noreus
– Barry and Francine Litofsky Scholarship: Brandy Gutierrez
– “Ding” Darling Conservation Scholarship: Sophia Arnold
– Tarpon Bay Explorers Scholarship: Amaya Griffin
– Mike and Terry Baldwin Scholarship: Ciara McCloskey
“These students become part of the greater ‘Ding’ Darling family,” Felker said. “It is wonderful to see what they are accomplishing through their studies and their enthusiasm for making a real difference in conservation. We welcome them back as scholarship applicants next year and as fellow conservation stewards in years to come.”
The DDWS will award scholarships starting at $1,000 each at the end of the 2025-26 school year. High school seniors and college students from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties pursuing careers in biology, conservation and environmental studies are eligible.
For an application and to read full descriptions of the scholarship winners and donors, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/student-scholarships.