The 2024 Bob McCullough Memorial Conservation Scholarship Awards were awarded to two outstanding Geauga County high school seniors on Monday, May 13 at Sunnybrook Preserve.  This scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who have participated in environmental studies or activities and  intend to pursue further education in a conservation-related area. 

Receiving the awards were Caeley Powell, of Berkshire High School, and Natalie Taiclet of West Geauga High school.  Both students spoke to the audience, including their parents, of their experience with conservation-minded activities and their goals for their college years and beyond.

Caeley will begin her studies at the University of Toledo and plans to student environmental engineering and education.   She states in her essay that her ultimate goal is to support the worlds finite resource of H2O, innovate sustainable practices for potable water and strive to expand its availability for all people.”

Natalie will be attending Ohio State University and majoring in environmental studies and natural resources.  She would like to be a natural resources team leader in the National Parks and help to preserve wildlife and reduce human impact on endangered or threatened species.

Caeley Powell and Natalie Taiclet, 2024 winners of the Bob McCullough Memorial Conservation Scholarship. 

Mr. McCullough influenced multiple generations to appreciate nature and value conservation in Geauga County. He was an avid park volunteer and served as Geauga Park director for 48 years, the longest of all to serve in this position. He was a biology teacher in West Geauga, Jefferson, and Burton, retiring in 1990.  

With this scholarship, Protect Geauga Parks, along with the McCullough family, hopes to support continuation of study in the natural resources and protection of the environment among high school students.  

Scholarships are funded through donations from generous PGP supporters.

Protect Geauga Parks is a 501 ©4 private non-profit organization and is not affiliated with the Geauga Park District