Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group | History of the Scholarship Program

Honorable Congressman Norm Dicks and Executive Director Neil Werner presenting scholarship awards to the 2006 recipients.

Since 1997, over 100 scholarships have been awarded and 110 internships have been funded. As of 2008, over $500,000 has been contributed to students pursuing degrees in the natural sciences. Our goals are two fold. The first is to provide college support funds for our local Hood Canal Watershed students. The second, and more important, is to turn out students who will ultimately become natural resource professionals who believe in our mission and mutually support our goals.

How did it start?

In May 1997, the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group awarded the first "Kate Marsh Scholarship" in the amount of $1500.00.

Over the next 5 years, HCSEG held auctions to raise the money to fund scholarships. During that time, $132,000 was raised to provide scholarships for local students.

Starting in 2003, the program was officially known as the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group Inspirational Scholarship/ Internship Program, because local families and organizations made five-year commitments to support the scholarship/internship program.

Who supported the Inspirational Scholarship/Internship Program?

The program was made possible by some pretty wonderful folks who made five year commitments to support the scholarship/internship program. Scholarships were in the donors name as inspirational or memorial and are represented by the HCSEG. Past donors of the Scholarship Internship Program are:

Al & Edee Adams- The Marian and David Adams Memorial Scholarship
Bob and Peggy Hager- The Hager Memorial Scholarship
Ferdie Schmitz- The Dodie Schmitz Scholarship
Richard and Karen Evans- The S& B Evans Scholarship
Butch and Laura Boad- The Roy Boad Scholarship
The Wilfrid G. & Patricia Loeken Scholarship
The Pat McCullough Scholarship
Dr. Wilbur Chinn- The Rod Johnson Scholarship
Peter & Dawn Winters- The Jerry Manuel Scholarship
Neil & Willa Werner
Kurt Mottet Fund
Bruce Dees & Associates
David Adams Memorial Fund
2 anonymous donors

The internship program has also been funded in part by contributions from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, WA Department of Natural Resources, WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the WA Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Nature Conservancy.

Thanks to everyone who has been part of the Stream Team Internship Legacy!

Past Scholarship / Internship Recipients

2007 Scholarship Recipients

Pictured from left to right Peter Kauhanen, Daniel Broody, Lauren Swanson, Adrianna Lippy, Nicholas Barrantes, Nicholas Holm (Mary Angel Lytle and Ben Masters not present)