Press Release
For immediate release
Contact: Chelle Koster Walton
239-472-3499
ChelleTrav@aol.com

Caption for available image: Tarpon Bay Explorers takes environmental education a step beyond the Touch Tank with its generous scholarship program.

Tarpon Bay Explorers offers scholarships for environmental studies

Tarpon Bay Explorers Scholarship for Environmental Studies again will award two $1,000 scholarships to local high school seniors or college students in October of this year and hopes to encourage other local businesses to participate, reports Marilyn Kloosterman, chair of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society (DDWS) Education Committee. Last year, in the scholarship’s inaugural year, Tarpon Bay and DDWS cooperatively presented four $1,000 checks to deserving students.

Applicants must live in Lee County and intend to pursue an education in science, biology, environmental studies, or wildlife conservation. Funds may be used for tuition, books, supplies, equipment, and technical materials at a qualifying institution of higher learning. Applications are due by Aug. 31, 2007.

“We are extremely grateful to Winston Spurgeon, owner of Tarpon Bay Explorers, for this generous contribution to the future of environmental education and our youth,” said Kloosterman. “It fits well with our mission to further the refuge’s conservation education value.”

Tarpon Bay Explorers, the official recreational concession for J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, offers refuge visitors kayak rentals and tours, nature boating cruises, educational Deck Talks, and other opportunities to learn more about local wildlife and its habitat.

“I would like to take this opportunity to challenge others in the business community to make an investment in environmental education which is so important now and will become even more so for the generations that will be receiving these scholarships,” said Spurgeon.

DDWS -- a non-profit, friends-of-the-refuge organization that supports the Education Center, “Ding” Darling Days, and other educational programs at the refuge – will administer the Tarpon Bay Explorers scholarships. For information on underwriting additional scholarships or applying for scholarships, please contact Kloosterman at mkloosterman@tnni.net or the DDWS office at 472-1100 ext. 233 for scholarship applications and information.