Author Topic: Riverkeeper Scholarship  (Read 7104 times)

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Riverkeeper Scholarship
« on: January 16, 2005, 12:49:16 AM »
Hackensack Riverkeeper
231 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-968-0808
201-968-0336
www.HackensackRiverkeeper.org
Hugh@HackensackRiverkeeper.org

January 3, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Hugh M. Carola

 

2005 Ron Vellekamp Environmental Scholarship

Annual Hackensack Riverkeeper award to be awarded in June

Hackensack, NJ - Beginning today, applications are being accepted for the 2005 Ron Vellekamp Environmental Scholarship. Now in its fifth year, the program was created to support college-bound high school seniors with excellent grades and a strong commitment to the environment.

The guidance departments of every high school in the Hackensack River watershed, which lies in parts of three counties (Rockland in New York; and Bergen and Hudson in New Jersey), were contacted today and invited to nominate one of their students for the Scholarship.

Guidance counselors or faculty advisors can submit applications on behalf of any student they feel should be considered. A panel that includes Captain Bill Sheehan, the executive director of Hackensack Riverkeeper, Trustees and staff  will review each application. In deciding upon a winner, the panel will consider each applicant’s academic achievements, environmental extra-curricular activities and future plans. The $1000 Scholarship is unrestricted and can be used for the purchase of books or other educational materials during the student’s first year in college.

Mr. Daniel De Santis of New City, New York was the 2004 Ron Vellekamp Scholarship winner.  While enrolled at Clarkstown Senior High School South, De Santis worked with the organization Keep Rockland Beautiful and developed environmental education (EE) programs for youth. He also started an advisory board that brought together student leaders from five Rockland County high schools to do EE. De Santis recently completed his first semester at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts where he is majoring in Global Environmental Science.

“Dan was the first applicant who had such a wealth of experience in environmental outreach,” said Carola. “As always, we had a well-qualified group of students to choose from but Dan showed a remarkable commitment to active conservation.”

Application criteria are available at www.HackensackRiverkeeper.org or by calling Hugh Carola at 201-968-0808.  Applications must be postmarked no later than Earth Day, April 22, 2005. The winner will be announced at Hackensack RiverFest on June 4.

The Ron Vellekamp Scholarship is supported by generous donations from friends and family of the late Mr. Vellekamp of Tenafly, NJ. Prior to his untimely death in 2002, the active high school teacher also served as a part-time park ranger at Palisades Interstate Park, a longtime Scout leader and a dedicated Trustee of Hackensack Riverkeeper.

“We endeavor to support students who show the same level of commitment to environmental protection that Ron had,” said Capt. Sheehan. “It’s a living memorial.”

Hackensack Riverkeeper is the leading environmental organization working on Hackensack River issues.  Its mission is the protection, preservation and restoration of the Hackensack River watershed and its living resources.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2005, 06:36:09 PM by Editor »