By Sage Faulkner
Chama Peak Land Alliance (CPLA) is 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. CPLA is pleased to announce its selection of three graduating Pagosa Springs High School students to receive the 2025 CPLA Conservation Scholarship. The scholarship program is presented in partnership with the Naranjo Ewbank Family Foundation, Rancho Oso del Pardo, and private donations. CPLA offers scholarship opportunities to graduating high school seniors at Escalante and Pagosa Springs High Schools to support advanced studies at any university or technical college. Student applicants were asked to write an essay about their future plans along with their thoughts on conservation and their career plans.
“These scholarships are important for us, our partners, and for the next generation of conservationists,” says Caleb Stotts, CPLA Executive Director. “These essays from our graduating seniors are always a breath of fresh air and one of the most enjoyable parts of our community work!”
Students Olivia Nehring, Sofia Sottek, and Hannah Schultz are the 2025 Pagosa Springs High School scholarship recipients. CPLA, the Naranjo Ewbank Family Foundation, Rancho Oso del Pardo and our members wish the recipients and the graduating class of 2025 the best of luck.
Included below are short excerpts from the recipient’s essays:
“As Brook Hampton said, ‘Children still need a childhood with dirt, mud, puddles, trees, sticks, and tadpoles.’ I hope my toys will instill a lifelong love of the outdoors in kids, as they have strengthened mine!”
— Olivia Nehring
“This act of service is one of our most important ones. This way our cans and plastic can be reused allowing there to not be any waste. Our recycling system also permits students a place to put their trash and makes it a less percentage of it ending up outside on the ground.”
—Hannah Schultz
“When I go off to college this fall, I aim to learn how to wisely use our earth’s resources. In regards to my profession, I know I want to make a positive impact whether that means studying marine biology and environmental sciences, preserving our oceans and land, or creating my voice through theatre and film screen acting.”
—Sofia Sottek
More information on the CPLA scholarship, the recipients, and other CPLA programs is available on our website www.chamapeak.org.
Sage Faulkner writes for Chama Peak Land Alliance.