DDWS awards $30K for environmental studies scholarships By REFUGE/DDWS - | Jul 23, 2021 PHOTO PROVIDED Sanibel's Dara Craig received her fifth DDWS scholarship this year toward graduate school at the University of Oregon. She is pictured studying climate change and glacial melt in New Zealand. In compliance with state pandemic guidelines, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge this year remotely awarded $30,700 in conservation education scholarships to 14 students from the surrounding five-county area. During its 15-year history, the DDWS Environmental Scholarship Program has awarded a total of $199,500 to deserving students. “The society is committed to educating today’s youth to become conservation stewards of the future,” DDWS Education Committee Chair Wendy Kindig said. “We work with businesses, families and individuals to provide annual scholarships to award to outstanding students pursuing degrees related to conservation, wildlife biology, environmental engineering, policy and science. A big thank you to our scholarship sponsors for their support.”