Parkland Airshed Management Zone
Dr. Martha Kostuch Environmental Education Fund
This scholarship celebrates the legacy of environmental advocate - Dr. Martha Kostuch, recognized for efforts and ability in stakeholder collaboration. Dr. Martha Kostuch was a founding member of Parkland Airshed Management Zone (PAMZ) and a director of PAMZ. During her 30-year career as an environmental advocate, Dr. Kostuch has made a significant impact on how environmental management policy was developed in Alberta, advocating for effective collaboration among stakeholders. Her work influenced a shift towards shared governance, recognizing that there is a shared responsibility for all sectors to act as good stewards of the environment.
Dr. Kostuch came to Alberta in 1975 from Minnesota, taking over a veterinary practice in Rocky Mountain House. She quickly became a recognized advocate on environmental issues, working with numerous organizations such as the Alberta Wilderness Association, Prairie Acid Rain Coalition and Friends of the Oldman River. She built her reputation by bringing various stakeholders together to find solutions to the environmental issues facing Alberta. She was easily Alberta’s best known environmental activist, having tackled many large and complex issues that through her dogged determination and persistence she has either helped to resolve or at a minimum moved the issue considerably forward. It’s easy for somebody to identify a problem and raise the alarm, it’s a lot harder to actually roll up your sleeves, sit down and figure out ways to solve or improve things. That’s the kind of person Martha was, and that’s the kind of recipient for which this scholarship is intended.
The Dr. Martha Kostuch Environmental Education Fund was permanently established in 2008 to help students pursuing an environmental education at schools or colleges within the PAMZ zone. This award will be given annually to a deserving student(s) in recognition of outstanding environmental service and leadership as well as promise of future achievement in environmental stewardship and/or environmental leadership.
Criteria & Eligibility:
- Any student with an interest in environmental issues may apply. Applicants must be pursuing post secondary education in a field related to resource conservation or environmental education.
- Full-time student who is currently graduating from a high School in the PAMZ region. Please see the PAMZ website for the regions www.pamz.org.
- Although financial need will be considered in the selection process through the responses to the questions, financial aid need is not required.
Expectations:
- Scholarship recipients must use the award to defray necessary expenses of advanced education, such as tuition, living expenses, books, supplies.
- Within seven months of the award announcement, a short (up to one page) report will be required of the scholarship recipient(s) to the Selection Committee so they may learn about the accomplishments and activities of the recipient.
- By accepting the scholarship, the recipient(s) acknowledges permission for PAMZ to publish or use the student’s story as they see fit.
- This award will be given annually to a deserving student(s) in recognition of outstanding environmental service and leadership as a student, and outstanding promise of future achievement in environmental stewardship and/or environmental leadership.
Please submit the following with your application:
- 3 Letters of recommendation including permission for PAMZ to contact your references. (ie. from teachers, employers, community leaders and/or character references).
- A current copy of high school transcripts
- Proof of enrolment or letter of acceptance at a post secondary intuition.
- Resume
- A personal essay including:
- your educational goals, describing reasons for selecting your major (if applicable), future plans in the field
- a list and brief description of your involvement in past and/or present civic, community, or environmental services or organizations,
- (one-page) response to the question “How have your experiences in the civic, community, and environmental services noted above influenced your decision to become a major in Environmental Studies?”
- (one-page) explaining “How would the scholarship award enable you to continue or enhance your education and civic, community, and environmental involvement?”
On a cover sheet, please include the following:
- Name
- Current telephone number
- E-mail address
- Local mailing address
- Expected quarter and year of graduation
Application due date: July 1st Annually
Value: $2500 (Scholarship may be divided between more than one recipient)
All applicants will be contacted by August 31st.
For information please contact:
PARKLAND AIRSHED MANAGEMENT ZONE
Dr. Martha Kostuch Environmental Education Fund
Box # 1020
Sundre, Alberta T0M 1X0
Office: 403-862-7046
Fax: 403-238-6604
Email: info@pamz.org
