With budding scholars across the country preparing to continue their education, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is proud to lend a helping hand.
The wilderness organization awarded scholarships to seven Idaho and Montana students who submitted essays about their wilderness experiences. Winning students earned their awards by demonstrating an appreciation for wilderness values and capturing those values in their stories.
The 2020 FSPW scholarship winners are as follows: Ethan Brown of Thompson Falls High School, Reagan Hanks of Thompson Falls High School, Travis Tuttle of Forrest M. Bird Charter School, Bradley O’Brien of Priest River Lamanna High School, Sophie McMahon of Clark Fork High School, Moxley Roesler-Begalke of Troy High School and Ryan Goodman of Libby High School.
In Bonner County, Travis Tuttle of Forrest Bird Charter School wrote about his experience climbing Mt. Whitney in California, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. Sophie McMahon of Clark Fork High School detailed the lessons and challenges of her backpacking trip in the Patagonia Wilderness. And Bradley O’Brien of Priest River Lamanna High School covered his time spent hunting in wild places.
Ryan Goodman of Libby High School in Lincoln County wrote about a close call he had with a grizzly bear while bow hunting with his family in the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. Moxley Roesler-Begalke of Troy High School, meanwhile, shared his introduction to Inland Northwest nature after his family moved to Montana.
In Sanders County, Thompson Falls High School student Etahn Brown discussed his time in the Youth Conservation Corps and work on Star Peak Trail. And Reagan Hanks of Thompson Falls High School wrote about the rejuvenation of exercise and camping in nature with family.
FSPW staff are asking scholarship-winning students to submit an audio recording of their essay. The recordings will be included in a future episode of the FSPW podcast, “Your Wild Place.”
The Friends thank each student who submitted a scholarship essay. Based on the variety of ideas and enthusiasm in the submitted essays, Idaho and Montana students have a bright future ahead of them. They’re all great examples of why people raise their families in towns with a wild backyard.
Check out more upcoming events and opportunities at www.scotchmanpeaks.org.
