Thirteen DDWS Conservation Scholarships Available

provided to The Santiva Chronicle

Application deadline is March 31 for 13 scholarships amounting to more than $20,000 from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS). Ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each, the scholarships are available to high school seniors, college students, and graduate students in or from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties pursuing degrees in environmental-related studies.

This year’s named scholarships include the following:

• Richard Bailey Scholarship
• Mike and Terry Baldwin Scholarship
• Dr. Andrew and Laura Dahlem Scholarship
• Dr. H. Randall Deming Scholarship for Conservation and Environmental Studies
• “Ding” Darling Conservation Scholarship
• Hans and Leslie Fleischner Scholarships (two scholarships)
•The Mary Elaine Jacobson Memorial Scholarship
• Win & Marilyn Kloosterman Scholarship
• Barry & Francine Litofsky Scholarship
• Tarpon Bay Explorers Scholarship
• Jane Werner Environmental Scholarships (two scholarships)

DDWS will award the scholarships at a special ceremony at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island in June 2023, if hurricane recovery efforts allow.

Now in its 17th year, the DDWS scholarship program presented its first awards in 2006, donated by Tarpon Bay Explorers, the refuge’s official recreation concession. To date, the program has awarded more than $233,000.

Interested students can find more information and printable application forms at the DDWS website.

To learn more about the scholarship program and establishing a permanently endowed scholarship, contact Birgie Miller at 239-292-0566 or director@dingdarlingsociety.org.

ABOUT DDWS
As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, DDWS works to support J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s mission of conservation, wildlife and habitat protection, research, and public education through charitable donations and Refuge Nature Shop profits. To support DDWS and the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit dingdarlingsociety.org or contact Birgie Miller at 239-292-0566 or director@dingdarlingsociety.org.