COSF Awards Eco Scholarships to Ojai and Newbury Park High School Seniors
Two Ventura County high school seniors, Alessandra Lucchesi of Nordhoff High School in Ojai, and Molly McNulty of Newbury Park High School, are the second set of recipients of Conejo Open Space Foundation scholarships. The $1,000 annual scholarships support students pursuing environmental-studies-related majors at two- or four-year colleges or universities.
“We are impressed with these two extraordinary young women and their commitment to the environment and we are grateful that COSF can play a role in contributing to supporting their education,” says COSF President Anne M. Russell.
The application includes a 500-word essay detailing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a career in environmental studies. The scholarships, which provide up to $4,000 in total, are awarded by a five-person panel. “Once again, we had a remarkable group of applicants, all of whom are passionate about addressing environmental issues to improve their communities,” says COSF Scholarship Committee Chair Jerry Westby. “COSF is delighted to provide scholarships to help Molly and Alessandra focus on environmental studies and continue to make this a better world.”
Alessandra Lucchesi has made a huge difference over the past three years at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy native plant nursery, first as a volunteer and then as a paid restoration intern. Alessandra plans a career in botany and wrote in her essay, “I believe my ecological perspective, experience in conserving ecosystems, practical tenacity, and absolute love for sustaining the environment will be vital for all my endeavors.”
Molly McNulty has already distinguished herself with a Girl Scout Gold Award Project that educated her community on the harmful effects of rodenticide on wildlife. Her hands-on efforts included installing an owl box at her local elementary school, which housed a nesting pair of the raptors. She also developed and taught a 5th grade class on rodenticides. “Benefitting my community and putting my idea into action made me even more passionate about our environment and committed to making a change,” Molly wrote in her essay.
Last year’s recipients, Naomi Lin and Daniel Conway, both graduates of Oak Park High School, are working toward degrees at UCLA and UC Berkeley respectively.
About the Conejo Open Space Foundation
Founded in 1995, the nonprofit, all-volunteer Conejo Open Space Foundation raises funds to promote and maintain the open space and multi-use trails of Conejo Valley and to educate trail users, especially children, about their roles as custodians and protectors of the open space and the environment. COSF supports a wide range of open space projects and events, including volunteer programs sponsored by COSCA, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency.
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