Each year, the Audubon Miami Valley supports the Earth Expedition Scholarship which is awarded to a local educator interested in furthering conservation and environmental education. This year’s scholarship recipients are Shelby Elder from Goshen, Ohio and Lane Forthofer from Rocky River, Ohio. Read more about each recipient below.
Scholarship Recipient Shelby Elder
Scholarship recipient Shelby Elder poses while in the Galapagos Islands this summer!
Shelby is a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field Program (GFP). Shelby is a science teacher at Goshen High School. This summer, Shelby traveled to the Galápagos Islands to study how small communities can do amazing things in the name of conservation. Shelby will take this experience and share it with her students who are already working on conservation projects of their own!
I believe that I am a good candidate for the Audubon Miami Valley Scholarship because I am an Ohio native and a current educator in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area, who has placed a focus on conservation in my community. Recently a tornado and exponential growth has struck my small community and little to no focus has been placed on protecting and restoring our environment. I have made it my goal to inspire my 9th and 10th grade students to rediscover their love for science and inquiry by supporting a year-long conservation project that my students came up with, with little help from me. By focusing on our small community, my students began to realize that maybe they can make a difference and we are creating and figuring out options to enhance the rapidly declining biodiversity in our community. My first Earth Expedition opened my eyes to the idea that with a little modification to my lessons, I could teach my material in a way that allows for this. By equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to tackle pressing environmental problems, I believe I can cultivate a new generation of environmentally literate and proactive citizens. Whether they pursue further education, careers in environmental science or simply integrate sustainable practices into their daily lives, the ripple effects of their actions have the potential to drive positive change at local, national, and global levels.
Scholarship Recipient Lane Forthofer
Lane is a graduate student in Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP). Lane teaches 7th and 8th grade at St. Bernadette School in Amelia, Ohio. This summer, Lane traveled to Costa Rica to gain firsthand knowledge of the biodiversity concerns impacting the region. Lane will take the knowledge gained from this experience and share it with students in her Environmental Stewardship course.
I am a 7th and 8th grade teacher at St. Bernadette School. This past school year, I started the environmental science club. During the first semester, students explored alternative agriculture by growing plants in a hydroponic garden. This semester, I am collaborating with the students on a Community Engagement Lab for my Environmental Stewardship course. Students have chosen a conservation issue to focus on. They are preparing projects to present to their peers during April in a mini science fair. They are working on spreading awareness of preserving nature and helping people of all ages learn ways to conserve. This summer I will be traveling to Costa Rica as an EE student. I hope to gain firsthand knowledge of the biodiversity concerns within certain parts of Costa Rica. This hands-on experience will strengthen my skills as an educator and as a global citizen. I feel I am a good candidate for this scholarship because I am dedicated to helping others learn about the importance of nature and protecting the environment.