HACKENSACK RIVERKEEPER AWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOLARSHIP
Cresskill Honor Student is Recipient of Riverkeeper's First Annual Award
By Hugh Carola
On Wednesday, June 6 at an awards ceremony at Cresskill Junior-Senior High School, Captain Bill Sheehan bestowed on Ms. Rebecca Nelson the organization's First Annual Hackensack Riverkeeper Environmental Scholarship Award.
The graduating senior was selected from a field of applicants from schools across the Hackensack River watershed to receive the award. "We've done a lot with and for grammar school and high school students over the years," said Captain Bill. "Presenting this scholarship to Rebecca is our latest way of supporting committed and talented scholars from our watershed as they move on to higher education."
At the ceremony, Ms. Nelson was referred to as being "an outstanding student who is among the best at Cresskill High School." Capt. Sheehan presented her with the award letter and a check for one thousand dollars. Actually, "outstanding" doesn't quite tell the whole story, particularly for a student whose lowest grade throughout her entire four years of high school was a B+ (and that was her ONLY B!). In addition to her excellent grades, Rebecca's wide-ranging extracurricular activities showed her to be an athlete, artist and musician, as well as a scholar.
Regarding the essay which she included in her scholarship application, Capt. Sheehan noted that, "It speaks of a young woman who is not only eager to learn, but who is eager to share that which she learns." Among other points, Rebecca wrote, "I would like to take advantage of every research opportunity given me, so I can learn about the word around me," and, "Everyone knows that the environment is in trouble, but no one really knows the extent of that trouble, and I want to help."
The Hackensack Riverkeeper Environmental Scholarship Award was established this year through a generous donation by an anonymous benefactor. Rebecca (and future winners) can put the scholarship money towards the purchase of books or other educational materials as their needs dictate. For prospective applicants in 2002, application requirements are available on our website, www.hackensackriverkeeper.org. Any questions about the Award can be directed to Hugh Carola, Riverkeeper's Program Director who, along with Capt. Bill, enjoyed reaching out to students who really want to make a difference.
"All of our applicants were deserving and it was so difficult to select just one to receive the Environmental Scholarship Award," said Capt. Sheehan, "but we're proud of Rebecca and we know that she will not only succeed in her life; she will enrich all of ours as well."
This fall, Ms. Nelson will begin her studies at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Needless to say, environmental studies and research will be major components of her curricula.