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June 12, 2024
2024 Scholarship Awarded to Honesdale High School Student
Vanessa Joy Van Gorder
The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has awarded the annual Vanessa Joy Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship for $2,000 to Jillian Hoey, a 2024 graduate of Honesdale High School.
The Vanessa Joy Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship was established in 2015 in honor of Vanessa, who passed away on December 25, 2014. A recent graduate from West Chester University with a degree in education, Vanessa was passionate about the outdoors and loved exploring the region with her friends and family. The Conservancy established this scholarship in Vanessa’s memory and to honor her dream of becoming an educator.
Recipient Jillian Hoey will attend the University of Scranton to focus on environmental studies. According to Jillian, “I intend to pursue a career in land stewardship and environmental concerns because of my profound passion for sustainable practices and saving our environment. I want to contribute meaningfully to addressing the pressing ecological challenges we face, and my aspiration reflects a personal dedication to fostering a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet and its diverse ecosystems.” In high school, Jillian was a member of the National Honor Society, the varsity field hockey and cheerleading teams, and class treasurer for two years.
To continue to inspire youth and encourage study and careers in natural science and education, contributions to the scholarship fund and other environmental education and conservation initiatives can be made online or by mail to 571 Perkins Pond Rd, Beach Lake, PA 18405.
