“Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) has awarded $33,200 in conservation education scholarships to 14 students from the surrounding five-county area. During its 20-year history, the DDWS Environmental Scholarship Program has awarded a total of $327,800 to deserving students.
“The society is committed to educating today’s youth to become future conservation stewards,” said DDWS Education Committee Chair Nancy Felker. “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.”
Scholarship donors and recipients for 2025 include:
Mary Elaine Jacobson Memorial Scholarship: Tori Guarino
Jane Werner Environmental Scholarships: Rachel Rainbolt and Sarah Swiersz
Dr. H. Randall Deming Scholarship for Conservation and Environmental Studies: Izabella Smolnicka-Dos Santos
Kent & Sharon Jager Scholarship: Carter Oleckna
Dr. Andrew & Laura Dahlem Scholarship: Macy Noll
Win & Marilyn Kloosterman Scholarships: Genevieve Bailey and Stacy Sanderlin
Hans & Leslie Fleischner Scholarships: Grayce Garthoeffner and Juliana Noreus
Barry & Francine Litofsky Scholarship: Brandy Gutierrez
“Ding” Darling Conservation Scholarship: Sophia Arnold
Tarpon Bay Explorers Scholarship: Amaya Griffin
Mike and Terry Baldwin Scholarship: Ciara McCloskey
“These students become part of the greater ‘Ding’ Darling family,” said Felker. “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.”
DDWS again will be awarding scholarships starting at $1,000 each at the end of the 2025-2026 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 2025 scholarship winners and donors, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/student-scholarships.
Individuals and businesses interested in establishing a named scholarship of $1,000 or more, or about general endowments in support of the work at the refuge, should contact DDWS Executive Director Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-789-8991.
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 Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-789-8991 or [email protected].
