2024 Scholarship Guidelines

The Edward W. Cooch, Jr. Environmental Scholarship fund was established to honor the late Edward W. Cooch, Jr. (1920-2010).  “Ned”, as many knew him, was an avid environmentalist with a deep passion for the natural lands and water resources of the State of Delaware.  He was a founder of the Christina Conservancy, one of the driving forces for the Christina River Watershed Cleanup, and an active member of the Delaware community who demonstrated a deep commitment to the natural environment.

This $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to one Delaware resident selected by the scholarship committee who demonstrates the ideals that Ned Cooch carried out in his daily life.  Applications are due by Monday, April 15, 2024. Notification of the winner will take place by the end of May and the Scholarship will be awarded in June 2024. Click here for full scholarship guidelines and application instructions.

The Christina Conservancy’s Annual Meeting was held Wednesday, November 29th from 3:00 – 5:00 PM at the CSC Station in Wilmington. Jim Tevebaugh was our guest speaker. His presentation titled The Next Phase of Wilmington’s Riverfront included the history of marketing the Christina River and his idea for a tourist information center with a history exhibit on the Christina.

Congratulations to Victoria Parsons!

On June 6^th the Christina Conservancy Board of Directors awarded the 2023 Edward W. Cooch, Jr. Environmental Scholarship to Victoria Parsons. Parsons is a senior at Sussex Academy in Georgetown, DE and will attend the University of Delaware Honors College to study Environmental Science.

Parsons has an outstanding academic record and is actively engaged in environmentally focused volunteer work. Parsons has participated inside and outside the classroom to learn about and help to improve the environment. At Sussex Academy, Parsons founded and led the Forces of Nature, an environmentally driven club at her school. She has participated in volunteer research activities such as the Delaware Shorebird project, Diamondback Terrapin survey and STEAM research in Alaska. While attending the University of Delaware Honors College, Parsons plans to delve further into the environmental field through her Environmental Science major while joining environmental groups and continuing her volunteer activities. Victoria’s passion for the environment and her academic and volunteer research activities demonstrate that she will be a significant contributor to the environmental field in the future.

Please join us in recognizing Victoria Parsons and honoring Edward W. Cooch, Jr. who was an avid environmentalist with a deep passion for the natural lands and water resources of the State of Delaware.

Each year starting in 2012 this $1,500 scholarship is awarded to a student recognized by the scholarship committee who demonstrates the ideals that Ned Cooch carried out in his daily life.  For more information on the scholarship, Victoria’s award, and past scholarship participants see http://www.christinaconservancy.org/scholarship/edward-w-cooch-jr-scholarship/.

To donate to the scholarship fund contact the ChristinaConservancyInc@gmail.com.