2022 Scholarship Winner

Lucas Macdonough

Wallenpaupack Area High School

The Lackawaxen River Conservancy is pleased to announce that Lucas Macdonough of Wallenpaupack Area High School is the winner of the 2022 Lackawaxen River Conservancy Scholarship.  Lucas received his award of $500 at the Awards Ceremony on June 17th, graduation day.  He will be attending Penn State University where he will study Materials Science/Engineering in order to seek solutions to the problems that are plaguing agriculture and our environment.

The environmental issue of particular concern to Lucas is the proliferation of the spotted lantern fly.  He states that “These invasive pests will harm and destroy our food sources.”  Everyone needs to be vigilant and learn what the egg masses look like and destroy them.  If herbicides are used to kill the spotted lantern fly these herbicides also pose a danger to the honey bees and wasps that pollinate our blossoms.  Lucas grew up on a family farm that has fruit trees, and vegetable gardens and produces maple syrup.  Last summer Lucas and his family found two lantern flies on their property.  This discovery brought the danger to his backyard.  “The more we can spread awareness the better chance we have to prevent this invasive species from destroying our environment and food sources.”

Lucas is an outstanding student who graduated first in his class.  He took a highly demanding program that included advanced English, math, science, and engineering courses.  In addition to his academic successes, Luke was a varsity letterman in tennis, which he played all four years in high school.  He was a Gold Award member in the National Honor Society and an usher at the Lake Ariel United Methodist Church.  Luke grew up as a very active participant in the running of his family’s farm.  He is the caretaker of the meat birds and egg layers as well as caring for the fruit and vegetable gardens, the family orchard, and participating in the production of maple syrup.   He is the youngest of three brothers, who will all be in college next year. Lucas has grown up with a close relationship to the Earth and its vulnerable bounty,  He is determined to play a role in its protection.