Tahoma
Tahoma>Twelve rising stars in fish and wildlife conservation recently received scholarships from The Walt Disney Company, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Tahoma>
Tahoma>Initiated by a $100,000 donation from The Walt Disney Company, the Refuge Centennial Scholarship for Conservation awards were created in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Tahoma>
Tahoma>The scholarships were awarded based on merit, academic achievements and efforts to improve conservation on national wildlife refuges. The selection committee also considered the diversity of the applicants, their career goals, and their desire to be a leader in conservation.
Tahoma>
Tahoma>The winners will use the scholarships to continue their education and increase their ability to make an impact on conservation and on national wildlife refuges. Funds may be used to help finance their tuition, fees, room and board, and research expenses. Listed below are the Centennial Scholarship for Conservation Disney Scholars for 2004:
$5,000 Undergraduate Scholarship: Tahoma
l1 level1 lfo2 list Ebony Sweet, Pennsylvania State University
Tahoma>
Tahoma$5,000 Graduate Scholarships:
l1 level1 lfo2 list Aleczandre Cole-Corde, Florida Gulf Coast University
l1 level1 lfo2 list Angela Daenzer, University of Montana
l1 level1 lfo2 list Kristina Ecton, Northern Arizona University
l1 level1 lfo2 list Dawn Reding, University of Hawaii
l1 level1 lfo2 list Leandra de Sousa, University of Alaska-Fairbanks
l1 level1 lfo2 list Nick Scribner, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
l1 level1 lfo2 list Katy Simmons, University of Nebraska Omaha
l1 level1 lfo2 list Jessie Thomas, Delaware State University
$15,000 Doctorate Scholarships:
Nathaniel Jue, Florida State University
Pamela Pannozzo, University of Florida
Jennifer Seavey, University of Massachusetts
"The Walt Disney Company is proud of a strong legacy with animals which began nearly 40 years ago with Walt himself, and continues today through the work and messages shared at Disneys Animal Kingdom theme park. It gives us great pleasure to underscore our commitment by supporting programs that develop the next generation of diverse conservation leaders who will bring new thinking and passion to address wildlife issues and land management. They are exemplary students and we are proud to join with the National Wildlife Refuge System to support their education," said Kym Murphy, Sr. Vice President of Corporate Environmental Policy, The Walt Disney Company.
According to Steven A. Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency that operates the National Wildlife Refuge System, "The future of conservation lies in the hands of the next generation of Americans and we are pleased to join The Walt Disney Company and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to make sure the future is bright.?
"Today's scholarship winners may influence the direction of future conservation efforts, and also lead the way in preserving fish, wildlife and their habitats. Thanks to The Walt Disney Company and the National Wildlife Refuge System, these students are being given the opportunity to make a significant difference," said John Berry, Executive Director of the Foundation. Tahoma
CG Times>
The Walt Disney Companys commitment to protect the environment dates back to its origins and founder, Walt Disney. Care for the environment was evident early on with the production of nature films, Walts support of wildlife and its preservation, and his idea to incorporate conservation in the Walt Disney World Resort master plan. Through a partnership with Disney guests and DisneyHand, worldwide outreach for The Walt Disney Company, the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund annually supports more than $1 million in conservation projects around the world.
Tahoma
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
Tahoma
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a nonprofit organization established by Congress in 1984 and dedicated to the conservation of fish, wildlife and plants, and the habitat on which they depend. The Foundation creates partnerships between the public and private sectors to strategically invest in conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. The Foundation has distributed 709 grants in 2004 and has leveraged $305.1 million in federal funds since its establishment, for a total of more than $918.8 million in on-the-ground conservation.
Applications for the next Tahoma>Refuge Centennial Scholarship for Conservation Tahoma> awards will be accepted in April 2005. Interested students may check
