2020 scholarship anika witsoe

In 2010, the Copper River Watershed Project released a new scholarship program for seniors from the Copper River watershed who are graduating and pursuing continued education that will benefit the culture, environment, or economy of the region.

Two $1000 scholarships will be awarded annually in the spring to one graduating student from a school in the Copper Basin (Glennallen, Kenny Lake or Slana High Schools) and one graduating student from Cordova High School. Homeschool students in the region are also eligible to apply as well as students who have spent a significant portion of their schooling in the Copper River watershed or students who have significant ties to the region.

 Download the 2024 Scholarship Application

For more information, contact (907) 424-3334 or email info@copperriver.org.

2022 Scholarship Winners

2022 Copper Basin Scholarship Winner: Keegan Delaquito       

 

Glennallen Highschool
Attending Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Keegan will be attending Alaska Vocational Technical Center to pursue a career as an Electrical Lineman. Keegan grew up in the Copper Valley and is interested in a career where he can help provide electricity to rural Alaska communities through sustainable solutions.

2022 Cordova Scholarship Winner: Mia Siebenmorgen                                            

Cordova Highschool
Accepted at Dartmouth College
Mia Siebenmorgen is interested in pursuing an environmental science or policy-oriented career and spent her senior year interning with the CRWP. While entering at CRWP Mia was a student leader in the Copper River Stewardship Program, assisted with the Cordova Salmon Tank, assisted with the Invasive Plants Program, shared her artistic skills with us by painting the salmon life cycle, and won the Spirit of Youth Award! Mia was nominated for the award by Program Director, Kate, Morse to celebrate what an outstanding role model Mia has been to her peers.

2020 Scholarship Winners

Cassidy Austin-Merlino

West Anchorage High School

Western Washington University

Cassidy plans to pursue a degree in Political Science and Environmental Justice. “Advocacy in the Copper River Watershed has gone on to greatly influence what I strive to study in college, political science and environmental studies, because I see the importance of protecting our ecosystems, creating a sustainable future, and holding those in office accountable for the decisions they make that impact the earth.”

 

 

 

Anika Witsoe

Cordova High School

Montana State University

Anika plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering. “My future efforts will hopefully encourage more people to make a change for the better. This would benefit the Copper River and its citizens in numerous ways. Although it is not my sole focus, the Copper River Watershed will always be one of my strongest motivations to help the earth recover and stay healthy.” 

2019 Scholarship Winners


Nicole Friendshuh

Kenny Lake High School

Saint Vincent College

Nicole plans to pursue a degree in nursing. “As a nurse, I will strive to improve the quality of peoples lives throughout the Copper River Valley, and I believe that my position as a healthcare worker will give me the power to do so.”

 

 

 


Helen Laird

IDEA (Interior Distance Education of Alaska)

Dartmouth College

Helen plans to pursue a degree in biology modified with environmental science. “The Copper River and Prince William Sound areas are two of my favorite places in the world, but like many wild places they are quickly becoming endangered. I still do not know exactly what field I will work in, but I know I want to help keep this area clean and filled with wildlife.” 

2018 Scholarship Winners

Miguel A. Saavedra

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Miguel plans to pursue a degree in geological engineering and construction management. “The culture of the town I live in is one of giving, so I would like to one day be able to give back more to my community.”

 

 

 

Marina Madison

University of Alaska Southeast

Marina plans to pursue a Liberal Arts degree with an emphasis on Outdoor Leadership and resource management. “Living in the copper river region has showed me beauty, strength, and to appreciate this enlightening place. I am in love with everything about this region from the delta to the mountains to the meadows. I hope to someday take part in protecting it and helping it thrive.” 

2017 Scholarship Winners

Amanda Friendshuh

Kenny Lake High School

University of Alaska Southeast

Amanda is pursuing a degree is Elementary Education a degree. Since Amanda first became a student she was inspired to be a teacher. “The Copper River Valley is, in my opinion, the most special place on earth, and I’m going to use what I have learned here to teach students that nature is one of the greatest teachers in the world.”

 

Elizabeth Arnold 

Cordova High School

University of Alaska Southeast

Elizabeth is pursuing a degree in degree in anthropology and hopes to pursue a career as a Librarian so that she can share her love of books. Elizabeth believes that a career as a librarian will “enhance the culture of our environment.”

2016 Scholarship Winners

 Jacquelyn Simeon

Glennallen High School

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Jacquelyn Simeon is pursuing a degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. She was inspired to pursue a conservation degree by her families enjoyment of nature in the Copper River Valley, a love of outdoor photography, and from working with the Youth Conservation Corps. She believes that a Wildlife Biology and Conservation degree is an important “bridge between using resources and caring for them for future generations.”

2015 Scholarship Winners

Deanna KnutsonDeanna Knutson

Kenny Lake High School

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Deanna is pursuing a degree in photography, a medium she finds compelling for its “way of getting a message across when words do not have enough power…The area I call home is full of beautiful land and wildlife, and one way to protect is to, like (Sebastiao) Salgado, draw attention to its innocence.”

Sarah HoepfnerSarah Hoepfner

Cordova High School

Humboldt State University

“The summer before high school I got the chance to go on the Copper River Stewardship Program. It was an amazing opportunity and I came back wanting to become a biologist. Later I worked with the Prince William Sound Regional Citizen’s Advisory Council to monitor for invasive European Green Crab and tunicate species…I taught students and adults about what I did, wrote up reports and presented at conferences. I really enjoyed this and loved that I got to do my own research.”

2014 Scholarship Winners

2014 Trevor GTrevor Grams

Glennallen High School

University of Alaska Fairbanks

“Once I graduate from college, I will work in the maritime industry until I gain the experience and credentials required to become the skipper of a scientific research vessel.  This scholarship will help me meet my ultimate goal of living in a town along the coast of Alaska and supporting my family with the money I earn from doing what I love most: learning about and exploring the Last Frontier from a boat.”

2014 Josh HJosh Hamberger

Cordova High School

Utah State University

“I plan on going into the field of computer engineering. Computers are necessary in today’s society.  People use them constantly and are always wanting them to operate faster and smoother.  There are a lot of scientists who live and work in the Copper River watershed.  Those scientists use and need computers to further their research and to help with data…and when I become a computer engineer I could make it easier for them to collect data.

2013 Scholarship Winners

Ben AmericusBenjamin Americus

Cordova High School

Montana State University

“In the six years that I have fished commercially in Prince William Sound and the Copper River Delta, I have experienced and learned much of what it takes to be a successful fisherman. Along with these attributes, I have gained an appreciation for non-destructive human interactions with natural systems, and have come to realize that the key to this is sustainability.”

Emmie Van WyheEmelia Van Wyhe

Kenny Lake School

University of Alaska Fairbanks

“I feel that growing up in Alaska has taught me the importance of sustainability, conservation, and taking care of what we have. I have a passion to return to the Copper Basin to work to make positive changes in the Copper River Watershed, such as continuing to promote environmental stewardship and education in the region. I believe the watershed is an invaluable resource that we simply cannot take for granted.”

2012 Scholarship Winners

Angie KellyAngie Kelly

Cordova High School

Montana State University

“Our natural resources sustain us here, and that is why my life in this community has given me the inspiration to pursue an education in biology. […] I can return with the knowledge to use the fish and wildlife here to support the Copper River Regions economy while still maintaining our culture and balancing it all with a healthy environment.”

Dirck RosenkransDirck Rosenkrans

Kenny Lake School

University of Montana

“Studying how to properly manage resources is very important to preserving our nation’s natural resources. The relationship between the people and the ecosystem is a very important balance vital to the health of the Copper Basin and its people.”

2011 Scholarship Winners

Shannon Lindow

Shannon Lindow

Cordova High School

University of Colorado, Boulder

“My hopes for college are to find a way to prevent further disasters, such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill and to keep fisheries such as the one in Prince William Sounds sustainable and thriving.  By studying either fisheries management or marine biology, I will be able to give something back to the community that has given so much to me and to protect the fishery that means everything to our town.”

Jessica Smyke

 

Jessica Smyke

Cordova High School

Fort Lewis College

“As I have learned numerous time in science camp: it’s all connected, from forest to the sea, so I hope that my career as a marine biologist will benefit the watershed in some way. I am also an environmental advocate, and wherever I end up living, I will always promote what is best for my hometown and the watershed that it lies in.”

Ellie Bowman

Kenny Lake School

University of Alaska Fairbanks

“My objective is to be an active member of society in the Copper Basin and other rural settings by educating and assisting women and families with the delivery of children and promoting a philosophy of a healthy life.”

2010 Scholarship Winners

Dani Hess

Dani Hess

Cordova High School

Western Washington University

“The unimaginable diversity and universal connectedness of every aspect of the environment is fascinating.  The immensity of nature however is morphed into something far more fragile when one considers the impacts that human development and use has on it.  With a degree in Environmental Science, I hope to learn more about this connectedness, and how to satisfy and adjust the demands of human society to make less of a negative impact on the environment.”

Hannah Rosenkrans

Hannah Rosenkrans

Kenny Lake School

Western Washington University

“When you grow up in a place like the Copper Basin, one learns many valuable life skills and begins to wonder what more to the world there may be.  I realize that although I am from Kenny Lake, I am also a member of the world community.”