Left to right: ‘Conrad Rice, Science Teacher, Wilmington Charter School, Jeffrey Chang, and Joanne Rufft, Vice-President of the Christina Conservancy Board.
Congratulations to Jeffrey Chang, winner of 2014 Edward W. Cooch, Jr. Environmental Scholarship
NEWARK – The Board of Directors of The Christina Conservancy (Board) is pleased to announce that Jeffrey Chang, from Wilmington, Delaware, has been awarded the 2014 Edward W. Cooch, Jr. Environmental Scholarship. On June 5, 2014, members of the Christina Conservancy Board, members of the Christina River Cleanup Committee, members of the Cooch family and others met to celebrate the awarding of the $1,000 scholarship to Jeffrey Chang, a student at the Wilmington Charter School, for his outstanding interest and accomplishments in environmental studies, especially as they relate to water, his community service, and for his plans to pursue post-secondary education in the field of environmental engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
The celebration was graciously hosted by the Cooch Family at the historical Cooch residence at Cooch’s Bridge, on Old Baltimore Pike in Newark, Delaware. Cooch Family members attending were The Hon. Richard Cooch, son of the late Edward W. Cooch, Jr. and Delaware Superior Court Judge, Barbara Cooch, wife of Richard Cooch, and Nancy Cooch, widow of the late Edward W. Cooch, Jr. Jeffrey’s parents, An-Lou and Eve Chang were also in attendance.
Joanne Rufft, vice-president of the Board and chairman of the Scholarship Committee said, “The scholarship committee selected Jeffrey Chang for the $1,000 scholarship not only for his glowing recommendations from the staff at the Wilmington Charter School, but also for his keen interest in water quality. Academically, Jeffrey Chang achieved a 4.0 grade point average during his years at the Wilmington Charter School.”
Jeffrey Chang expressed his appreciation for the award and said, “It’s amazing to receive this award, knowing that it will further my education and help find ways to better the health of both humankind and the earth.”
The Edward W. (Ned) Cooch, Jr. Environmental Scholarship fund was established in 2011 to honor the late Mr. Cooch who was an avid environmentalist with a deep passion for the natural lands and water resources of Delaware and was very involved in the Delaware community as a whole. Ned’s environmental fervor led him to be one of the founders of the Christina Conservancy and a driving force and inspiration behind the creation of the Christina River Watershed Cleanup in 1992 which has removed thousands of tons of trash and debris from the watershed in the ensuing years. The scholarship is sponsored by the Christina Conservancy and its affiliate, the Christina River Watershed Cleanup Committee.
Interviews with Jeffrey Chang may be requested by contacting:
Anne Fitzgerald
Christina Conservancy Board Member
302.544.2148
Christinaconservancy@gmail.com
Click here for more information on the Edward W. Cooch, Jr. Environmental Education Scholarship
( i.e. Eligibility, Selection Criteria, etc.)
The mission of the Christina Conservancy is to promote the preservation, restoration, and conservation of the historic and natural resources of the Christina River watershed. The Conservancy seeks to achieve this mission by providing financial support, advocacy support, communication, education, and vision and leadership in partnership with state and local agencies, other non-profit organizations, businesses, residents, homeowners, landowners, and user groups.
