Woodstock High School Graduates Receive Annual Defenders’ Scholarship
WOODSTOCK – The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County scholarship is presented yearly to a high school senior who is intending to pursue a major in college related to the environment.
This year, The Defenders’ Board of Directors decided to award not one, but two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors.
The scholarship selection committee chose Dylan Manke and James Sullivan, both from Woodstock High School, as the recipients of the 2014 Defenders’ scholarships.
Dylan Manke and James Sullivan
Dylan intends to major in environmental engineering in college.
In addition to his work for the environment, Dylan has also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. His Eagle Scout Project was to repair and redo the 4-H sign at the County fairgrounds.
Dylan wrote in his essay,
“These past two years have been an eye-opening, transformative period. An evolving awareness as to the direction my life’s focus would take first began to emerge when, in my junior year, I enrolled in an advanced placement environmental science course.
“This was followed by civil engineering and architecture as a senior.
“These courses, and experiences nurtured by scouting, instilled in me a desire to pursue a career centered on addressing issues facing the health of our planet.”
James will be attending the University of Illinois, majoring in environmental science.
He wrote in his essay,
“I want to be a part of the most environmentally conscious generation in history.
“I am studying the environment to create a more sustainable future for the planet.”
James was a member of the high school Envirothon team as well as a three-sport athlete and member of the National Honor Society. He also served in the PALS Mentor Program, working with first and second graders at Dean Street Elementary. James organized and implemented a recycling program for the Family Health Partnership Clinic.
The Defenders are confident that Dylan and James will be successful in whatever they choose to do in the future. Congratulations to them both on receiving The Defenders’ Environmental Scholarships for 2014.
The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. The group provides community residents with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation. Donations are encouraged and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions. For more information, visit www.mcdef.org or call 815-338-0393.