Our 2022 Inaugural Chrysalis Scholarship recipients made huge strides in the pursuit of conservation with their scholarship awards this year! These students may come from different backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common: a deep love and respect for nature.

“My whole life revolves around my passion for wildlife, my love for science,” says scholarship recipient Aaron Morton. The George Mason undergraduate used the funding to study abroad at Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica. There he embraced nature with classes that supported his interest in birding. He currently majors in biology with a concentration in conservation and is grateful to have gained conservation experience through an international lens thanks to Conservation Nation.

With her Chrysalis Scholarship, Elizabeth Guzman jumped into her freshman year as an Environment & Sustainability major at Cornell University by volunteering with multiple environmental organizations. Not only did she participate in the Hydroponics Club and Engineers for a Sustainable World, but she also continued to serve virtually on the Conservation Nation Youth Advisory Council. Elizabeth enjoyed taking classes in ecology, biology, sustainability, and natural resource preservation to expand her understanding of the natural world and how people view environmental issues.

Alyssa Lee (pictured above) used her Chrysalis Scholarship to pursue studies in environmental science and policy at the University of Maryland in College Park. Over the summer, she is working at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center to further her on the path to become a wildlife biologist. Working in nature is a huge passion for Alyssa, and she strives to do as much as she can to foster the connection she has to the environment.

Another scholar who continued to serve on our Conservation Nation Youth Advisory Council, Tyler Kirkland, used his scholarship to pursue studies of environmental science at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). Tyler is a part of NOVA’s Advance program, which streamlines his academic path from NOVA to George Mason. Tyler also volunteers at various parks in Prince William County and tells us, “Meeting my counselor and receiving the aid needed to achieve my educational goals puts those goals on a seeable track.  The school really tries to help me grow as a person and will aid me in understanding what I will need to continue my progress in the pursuit of my degree and the study of the world’s environment.”

Congratulations to all the scholarship winners for 2023! We are excited to see where your careers take you in the future.