DDWS awards over $43K for environmental studies scholarships
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) awarded $43,700 in conservation education scholarships to 15 students from the five-county area at a special ceremony on April 25.
During its 21-year history, the DDWS Environmental Scholarship Program has awarded a total of $371,500.
“The society is committed to educating today’s youth to become future conservation stewards,” DDWS Education Committee Chair Becky Clemens 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 2026 scholarship donors and recipients include:
– Mike and Terry Baldwin Scholarship: Sameen Qureshi
– Dr. Andrew and Laura Dahlem Scholarship: Sarah Lindo
– “Ding” Darling Conservation Scholarship: Hannah Dickinson
– Dr. H. Randall Deming Endowed Scholarship for Conservation and Environmental Studies: Kira Zautcke
– Fleischner Family Scholarship: Jaylee Ciaschini and Tori Guarino
– Mary Elaine Jacobson Memorial Scholarship: Carter Oleckna
– Kent and Sharon Jager Scholarship: Mary Grace Bowlin and Victoria Busch
– Win and Marilyn Kloosterman Endowed Scholarship: Cael Kelley and Juliana Schoeberlein
– Barry and Francine Litofsky Scholarship: Rylie DiSarro
– Tarpon Bay Explorers Scholarship: Ethan Fulleton
– Jane Werner Endowed Scholarship: Macy Noll and Izabella Smolnicka-Dos Santos
“These students become part of the greater ‘Ding’ Darling family,” she 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 2026-27 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 2026 scholarship winners and donors, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/student-scholarships.