The deadline of March 31st is fast approaching for those interested in applying for The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge scholarships. These scholarships range from $1,000 to $3,000 each, and 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.
Now in its 15th 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 $147,000. This year there are currently 11 named scholarships amounting to amounting to more than $20,000
DDWS will award the scholarships at a special ceremony at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island in June 2021 if pandemic guidelines allow.
Students interested in this great opportunity can find more information and printable application forms at dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/student-scholarships. If you are interested in establishing a permanently endowed scholarship, contact Birgie Miller at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 or director@dingdarlingsociety.org.
DDWS is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, working 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