The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) has awarded its 2021 Scholarships to four deserving students. The conservation scholarship program rewards graduating high school students who are pursuing post-secondary studies in a conservation-related field and who have demonstrated high academic standing and involvement in environmental initiatives.

Zachary Zavitz from Strathroy District Collegiate Institute in Strathroy and Nicole Guthrie from Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School in Sarnia were awarded with the 2021 A.W. Campbell Memorial Scholarships. Both will be studying Environmental Science/Studies at Trent University this coming fall.

Johanna Ni Xiu deKoning from Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Strathroy was awarded the Tony Stranak Conservation Scholarship while Lucie Slakmon, a student from Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School in Sarnia received the Mary Jo Arnold Conservation Scholarship. Johanna will be pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies at Wilfred Laurier University while Lucie will be attending Trent University, pursuing an Honours Science degree in Conservation Biology.

Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, two separate presentations were arranged to formally recognize the students’ achievements. “It is always such a delight to meet with our scholarship recipients,” said Joe Faas, Chair of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority. “The young people we have acknowledged today will be our future conservationists and will take an active role in the important environmental issues that face our region. We are happy to provide support to them as they pursue their post-secondary studies in the environmental field.”

The scholarships are made possible through trust funds established by the St. Clair Region Conservation Foundation and its donors. In honour of the SCRCA’s 60^th Anniversary being celebrated in 2021, the Foundation generously approved additional funding to support all applicants to the 2021 scholarship program. In total, $5,000 was awarded across the St. Clair Region this year.