Sutton Avian Research Center offers Scholarships

Today’s high school student has two concerns entering their senior year, which college will accept me and how will I pay for it? The Sutton Avian Research Center is offering a unique opportunity for those students interested in nature and conservation.
   For the last five years, the Sutton Avian Research Center has honored talented professional conservationists who capture the beauty of the planet on film, in photos and in music. The Sutton Avian Research Center helps connect the citizens with nature by using these tools and raising awareness of issues such as the nesting of the bald eagle in Oklahoma.
   In its fourth year, the Sutton Award honored talented high school students for excellence in conservation communication. The instructors of these students are also honored. Students from grades ten through twelve are eligible and they must demonstrate the ability to communicate a current conservation topic in a most artistic, dramatic and/or compelling way.
   The student can choose one of the following methods for his or her presentation, in movie form no longer than 15 minutes, a photo essay consisting of 2-12 photos, fine art (drawings, paintings or sculpture) and advertising via television, poster, website, or other mediums.
   A brief but detailed Project Essay (two pages or less) which explains why you chose your subject, describes the project and explains what impact your project may have on conservation.
   There is an official application that is included with your project. Entries are judged both on presentation and the project essay.
   The scholarships for this year have been awarded, but for next year’s students getting started on the project starts now. For more information on the scholarship program and an application, log on to www.suttoncenter.org or call Margie Nolan at 918-581-6187.
   Margie Nolan is the Development Coordinator for the Sutton Avian Research Center, “This is a great opportunity for students interested in nature and conservation to do a project that will not only create awareness of their subject, but will also help them pay for that college education.”

To see one of the bald eagles from the Sutton Avian Research Center, turn to this month’s Family Affair. The bald eagle in the picture is Fiona. Fiona is blind in one eye due to the West Nile virus. Seen with trainer Ryan A. VanZant, Fiona is used in the Sutton Education Program, It’s All About Birds. This program brings birds to area schools to create awareness of issues facing birds and nature.