2017 Scholarship Winners

Olivia Troiano

Western Wayne High School

Olivia began her college career at LaSalle University, where she majored in Environmental Studies.  She is now attending the College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) in Syracuse, New York, where she is entering her senior year. She is continuing to major in Environmental Studies with a focus on Policy Planning and Law in preparation for a career in the conservation and protection of the environment, possibly as a forest ranger. 

Olivia’s original summer plans for an internship were canceled due to Covid-19.  As it turns out, she is loving her alternative plan.  She is working at her local zoo, Claws N’ Paws, in Lake Ariel.  She has especially enjoyed shadowing the zookeepers and learning all that they do.  She is hoping to find more opportunities to shadow environmentalists. One of Olivia’s abiding environmental concerns is the widespread proliferation and unchecked use of plastics.

Emily Ritter

Honesdale High School

Emily Ritter, graduate of Honesdale High School was a winner of the 2017 Lackawaxen River Conservancy Scholarship.   Emily attended Millersville University of Pennsylvania In Millersville, Pennsylvania.  She majored in biology with a specialization in animal behavior. 

Emily’s academic performance was outstanding in an exceptionally rigorous program.  Her enthusiasm for science was evident throughout her high school career.  She participated in many scientific competitions including Envirothon and the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science.  Emily earned recognition from PJAS for her research on color blindness in dogs in her junior year and in her senior year for her research on stress levels in shelter cats.

The endangerment of animals has been a driving concern for Emily.  “Lack of empathy for the Earth and for animal life runs rampant in our society.”  She cites loss of habitat, deforestation and poaching as examples of the human indifference and the callousness that is threatening the existence of many species of animals today.  “If all people could realize that they are just lucky to live on our planet, maybe they would work at protecting the balance of nature and its organisms.”