The Chama Peak Land Alliance (CPLA), a diverse group of conservation-minded landowners committed to embracing and practicing responsible land, water and wildlife stewardship in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, has selected five graduating Pagosa Springs High School students to receive the 2024 CPLA Conservation Scholarship.
The scholarship program is presented in partnership with Rancho Lobo, a member ranch, and student applicants were asked to write an essay about their future plans along with their thoughts on conservation.
“These scholarships are really important to CPLA because we want to ensure a connection with the next generation of conservationists. These students’ commitment to the land and conservation is evident in their essays,” said Caleb Stotts, Chama Peak Land Alliance executive director.
Recipients include the following students:
Tied for first: Hadley Phillips and Karis Blackman.
Tied for runner-up: Trey Garcia, Natalie Mashue and Hunter Pouyer.
Included below are short excerpts from the first-place students’ essays:
Phillips wrote, “I want to study my favorite things including wildlife, water preservation, land resource preservation, and overall the restoration of the environment. Thinking of my more distant future, I plan to put my studies to the test and actually work with nature to help others with the same dream as me.”
Karis Blackman wrote, “Growing up surrounded by the breathtaking landscapes of Colorado, I have always felt an innate connection to the environment and its mysteries. Being the child of a natural resource specialist and the recreation manager for the San Juan National Forest has allowed me to experience my local surroundings in a unique and profound way. Witnessing the wonders of nature and understanding its vital role in nurturing life, I developed a deep-rooted aspiration to follow in my father’s footsteps and contribute to environmental conservation.”
The CPLA and Rancho Lobo wish all the graduating seniors good luck. For more information on the CPLA scholarship and the recipients, and other CPLA programs, visit www.chamapeak.org.
