A committee of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation board is proud to announce the selection of the 2024/2025 scholarship recipients. Congratulations to Kejsi Gjini, Christopher Pettengill, and Jada Bollmeyer for their selection as SCWF scholarship winners and to Leah Roberts for being selected for the Nicole Chadwick Memorial Scholarship. These impressive young conservationists are all motivated to use science-based solutions to make an impact on the world around them.

Leah Roberts is senior at Clemson University, where she is an environmental and natural resources major with an emphasis in conservation biology with minors in biological sciences and wildlife and fisheries biology. Leah has already had the opportunity to work as an undergraduate research assistant on three ecology projects, the most recent of which was on small mammal ecology. Leah is also a passionate volunteer and is involved with many environmental projects throughout the year at Rocky River Park through Anderson University. Her long-term goal is to be wildlife ecology or biology professor.

Jada Bollmeyer, a junior majoring in environmental studies at the University of South Carolina, has been passionate about environmental advocacy since age 11. She truly believes that one person can make a difference, and plans to use her “voice and unwavering dedication to this field to progress South Carolina’s environmental efforts while uplifting marginalized communities for the sake of not only the state, but the planet as a whole.” After she graduates, Jada plans to work in clean energy and advocate for a transition to renewable power, especially community solar. She hopes to use her education to promote more inclusive energy policies through environmental outreach and improved program design.

Christopher Pettengill is a graduate student at Clemson University where he is a wildlife and fisheries biology major. Perhaps because his lifelong interest in ecology and human impact started at a young age, Christopher is passionate about ensuring that future generations also get to experiences our natural resources. He is especially interested in how human actions impact our environment. In his professional career, he hopes to improve habitat quality and ecosystem services.

Kejsi Gjini, a senior environmental studies major at the University of South Carolina, cares deeply about addressing climate change and also about sustainable management of natural resources. He is “passionate about creating solutions that mitigate climate change while ensuring that communities, particularly the most vulnerable, are able to participate in the planning and the benefits of a more sustainable world.” After completing this degree, he plans to apply to a master’s program in Earth and Environmental Resource Management (MEERM) so that he can conserve natural ecosystems in a way that also helps humans.

SCWF is honored to be able to distribute educational grants to full-time students pursuing a degree in any environmental field at South Carolina schools of higher education. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, based on their performance in academia and in related community activities. These scholarships are funded by contributions from generous individual donors in addition to the ongoing support received from these funds:

•  D. L. Scurry Foundation provides educational scholarship funds for individuals attending colleges, universities and technical schools in South Carolina.
•  The Riverbanks Conservation Support Fund (CSF) provides financial assistance for conservation oriented projects/programs worldwide that promote preservation of the Earth’s biodiversity.
• The Nicole Chadwick Memorial Fund honors the legacy of an endangered species biologist who made a long-lasting impact on wildlife conservation in South Carolina.