Press Release
Submitted by the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists
June 25, 2009
2009 Cliff Bennett Nature Bursary Awards presented to two local students set to attend Sir Sandford Flemming College Environmental Technology program
The Cliff Bennett Nature Bursary Awards, supported by the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists (MVFN), are awarded annually to local high school graduates planning to pursue post-secondary studies in an aspect of nature or an environmental field. Both the young 2009 recipients of the award, André Drapeau and Scott Quackenbush, were on hand outside the Carleton Place Canoe Club June 23 rd to receive their $500 bursaries, as well as congratulations from Cliff Bennett and Joyce Clinton, President of MVFN.
Both nature bursary award recipients have been accepted into the Sir Sandford Flemming College Environmental Technology program offered at Flemming College’s Frost Campus in Lindsay, Ontario.
Nature Bursary winner André Drapeau, is a resident of Beckwith and a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Carleton Place. He has acquired a strong appreciation for issues related to the environment during his high school years and considers his large family at home to be very “green.” An advocate of environmentally safe disposal of computer supplies, he operates a small home-based business to promote the Ontario Electronics Stewardship programme. André hopes his college education will hold him in good stead to further his career interests in environmental sciences research and improvement of systems.
Scott Quackenbush, also a resident of Beckwith, has attended Carleton Place High School for the past four years and has always been interested and concerned with environmental issues. This summer, he plans to work as a volunteer with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority in their City Stream Watch Programme. Upon completion of the 2-3 year Environmental Technology program at Flemming College he would like to continue in the post-graduate Natural Resources Law Enforcement course towards fulfillment of one of his future ambitions i.e. work as a Conservation Officer or an Environmental Officer.
The Cliff Bennett Nature Bursary Award was established in 2007 by MVFN members and friends and family of naturalist and retired educator Cliff Bennett on the occasion of his 75th birthday. The annual bursary programme is supported by MVFN, and application and other details may be found on MVFN’s website at www.mvfn.ca.
Congratulations to both of this years award winners and best wishes for your studies!
Photo 1: 2009 Nature Bursary winner André Drapeau accepts award from MVFN President Joyce Clinton outside the Carleton Place Canoe Club Photo:Pauline Donaldson
Photo 2: Cliff Bennett (right) makes the presentation of a Nature Bursary to Carleton Place High School student Scott Quackenbush outside at the Carleton Place Canoe Club. Photo – Pauline Donaldson