Future stewards of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario encouraged to apply
WATERTOWN — Students pursuing post-secondary studies in environmental science with an interest in maintaining the natural environment of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario are encouraged to apply for the Community Foundation’s International Water Level Coalition Scholarship.
Applicants may be high school seniors or nontraditional students who are returning to school after a break in their education. All students from the areas surrounding the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, including students from Canada, are eligible to apply.
Suggested majors include, but are not limited to aquatic and fisheries science, conservation biology, environmental biology, and natural resources management.
Those interested in applying should complete the Community Foundation’s common online scholarship application, which may be accessed at bit.ly/nnycf-scholarships, by Friday. March 15, 2024.
“We are grateful that the members of the International Water Levels Coalition chose to partner with us to steward this new scholarship fund that will continue to make a positive difference in the region,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “It will be an enduring reminder of past stewardship efforts and the importance of continuing to care for our area’s cherished natural resources.”
Wellesley Island resident Paul Webb is a founding member of the International Water Levels Coalition (IWLC) and served as the organization’s last president before it dissolved in 2020.
“I am very pleased to announce that the IWLC has established, with the Northern New York Community Foundation, a program for further studies of St. Lawrence River water levels,” Mr. Webb said. “The program is open to any interested American or Canadian student.”
The IWLC was formed in 1980 by riparians along the St. Lawrence River — notably Bea Schermerhorn, well-known owner of Schermerhorn Marina; Leroy Hamilton of Iroquois Marine Services, Ontario; Dalton Foster of Wilson Hill, near Massena; and Clarence Giles of Clayton. Many other riparians, visitors, boaters, and landlubbers donated their time, interest, ideas, and gifts to help the IWLC accomplish its work and mission.
The three most outstanding achievements of the IWLC included recognition by the International Board of Control that riparians in Canada and the U.S. be valued as responsible caretakers of the St. Lawrence River and Seaway; acceptance of recreational boaters as equally valuable users of the St. Lawrence River and Seaway; and the addition of an Adaptive Management Phase to the latest official water levels plan — Plan 2014.
“This Community Foundation scholarship will forever recognize the contributions of IWLC members while supporting future generations who desire to protect the St. Lawrence River and Seaway for all to enjoy,” Mr. Webb said.
Contact Mary Perrine, coordinator of partnerships, 315-782-7110, or maryp@nnycf.org, with questions about this scholarship. Visit nnycf.org to learn more about Community Foundation scholarships and to access applications.
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.