HAWLEY, PA AND BETHEL, NY — The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has awarded its annual Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Yeaman Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000 to Alex Hess, a 2015 graduate of Deposit Central School, and the “Vanessa Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000 to Claire Harvey, a 2015 graduate of Honesdale High School.

The Yeaman scholarship, given in honor of the Conservancy’s founder Barbara Yeaman has been awarded annually since 2004 to a student planning to pursue a field in environmental studies in college. Recipient Hess graduated as the valedictorian from Deposit Central School in June 2015 and will be attending SUNY ESF (Environmental Science and Forestry) in Syracuse in the fall, where he will major in Environmental Resources Engineering. Alex feels at home in nature and hopes to help maintain our healthy environment; as he explains, “I hope that with continued community support we can help make our rivers flourish. As an avid fisherman, I know the importance of the river and its benefits to society.” Active in both his school and community, Alex was president of the student council, secretary of the honor society, and a leader in his Envirothon team.

The Vanessa Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship was established this spring in honor of Van Gorder, who tragically lost her life on December 26, 2014. A recent graduate from West Chester University with a degree in education, Van Gorder was passionate about the outdoors and loved exploring the lakes, rivers and forests of the region with her friends and family. The Conservancy established this scholarship to honor her dream of becoming an educator.

Recipient Claire Harvey graduated cum laude from Honesdale High School and is spending her summer as a counselor at Journey’s End Farm Camp in Sterling, PA, where she will teach children about nature, conservation and respect for each other. This fall, Claire will attend the University of California, Irvine to study literary journalism. She hopes to further the ideals and views fostered growing up in Wayne County when she graduates.

Visit www.DelawareHighlands.org, email info@delawarehighlands.org or call 570 226-3164 or 845-583-1010.