The 2023 Bob McCullough Memorial Conservation Scholarship Awards were presented to three outstanding Geauga County high school seniors on Tuesday, June 20, at Bass Lake Preserve. Receiving the awards were Emily Berdis, of West Geauga High School, Olivia Walker of Kenston High School and Jordyn Wichert of Berkshire High School.

Emily will begin her studies at the University of Akron and will be majoring in engineering. Her focus will be to work in the development of renewable energy technology. Olivia is enrolled at Ohio State University and will be majoring in natural sciences. Her main interest is in the preservation of wetlands and forest areas. Jordyn will be attending Ohio University and plans to study environmental science. She is interested in developing and encouraging practices such as reduced mowing and pesticide use to protect pollinating insects.

Protect Geauga Parks created the Bob McCullough Memorial Conservation Scholarship in 2017 in honor of the late Bob McCullough. A former Geauga Park District Board member and high school biology teacher at West Geauga, Burton and Jefferson school districts, Mr. McCullough influenced multiple generations to appreciate nature and value conservation in Geauga County. He served as Geauga Park Commissioner for 38 years, the longest of all to serve in this position. With this scholarship, Protect Geauga Parks along with the McCullough family, hopes to support continuation of conservation exploration and study among high school students. Scholarships are funded through donations from PGP supporters and the generosity of  Foundation for Geauga Parks.

PGP continues to appreciate the quality of scholarship applications received over the last six years.  Families, mentors, schools and the Geauga County communities are to be commended for igniting these applicants’ love of nature and passion for conservation. We are confident, from the feedback we receive from involved students, that our support encourages students to make their dreams into reality.