Wetland Centres of Excellence Scholarship 

Timeline for Application

• Applications will be accepted from February 2 to March 2, 2024.
• Scholarship winners will be chosen and informed by end of April 2024.
• Funds will be awarded in September 2024 upon proof of enrolment.

Selection Criteria

• Applicant’s level of engagement with the Wetland Centre of Excellence program.
• Relevance of the proposed field of study to DUC’s conservation efforts.
• Quality of the application.

To Apply

• Complete the application form. 
• Attach a copy of your Grade 11 and first semester Grade 12 transcript.
• Attach a letter of recommendation from your Wetland Centre of Excellence leader.
• Email completed form and attachments to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. between February 2 and March 2, 2024. 

Ash Ecclestone

Climate Change and Society student at Western University, former participant of the Luther Marsh WCE

Ash was described as a "superior leader" in theLuther Marsh WCE program. Not only did she earn the highest mark in the class, her endless enthusiasm for learning and kindness towards others made her stand out. Now at Western University, she’s interested in the social impacts of climate change, how to navigate and mitigate these impacts, and how to teach and encourage people to live sustainably.

Anna MacKinnon

Forestry Tech student at the Maritime College of Forest Tech, former participant of the Tantramar WCE

Anna was a very active participant at the Tantramar WCE, having volunteered all four years of high school to help with WCE activities. She mastered everything from canoeing and bird banding to nest box building and delivering wetland field trips. She is now pursuing her passion for sustainable forestry and conservation at the Maritime College for Forest Technology.

Owen Nicholson

Environmental Management student at the University of New Brunswick, former participant of the Fredericton WCE

Owen has had a lifelong passion for wetlands and conservation. He joined the Fredericton WCE program with great enthusiasm, taking on an ambitious water and soil quality project at Corbrett Brook. He looks forward to a career in conservation and hopes to excel in Environmental Management at the University of New Brunswick.

Ella Cattrysse

Bachelor of Science student at Dalhousie University, former participant of the East Elgin WCE

Ella found her voice at the East Elgin WCE. She started out as one of the shyer students, but saw herself change through hard work and mentorship. She pushed herself during long canoe trips, hikes and tree planting projects. During their Marsh Quest festival, she stepped up to lead the wetland camouflage station for hundreds of elementary students. She looks forward to continuing to grow, learn and explore her passion for water at Dalhousie University.

Anneke Harpur

Bachelor of Environmental Studies student at the University of Prince Edward Island, former participant of the Tantramar WCE

Anneke was a superstar volunteer at the Tantramar WCE. She started helping out with wetland stations in Grade 9 and was a dedicated "Wethead" throughout her high school career. Her love of birds led her to help with beginner birding, swallow box building and waterfowl banding, all of which she tackled with great commitment and enthusiasm. Anneke is excited to follow in her father's footsteps and work towards a career in conservation at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Emily MacNaughton

Bachelor of Science student at the University of New Brunswick, former participant of the Fredericton WCE

Emily became a master problem-solver at the Fredericton WCE. She took on the challenge of working on the "Tentacle Shield", a water quality monitoring device set up to take measurements at Corbett Brook. After weeks of trial and error, and a few setbacks, she found and fixed the problems in the code. She is proud of her accomplishments looks forward to tackling new conservation problems at the University of New Brunswick.

Kylie Holmstrom

Bachelor of Education student at the University of Alberta, former participant of the Virden WCE

Kylie was an excellent mentor at the Virden WCE. She was known for her outgoing personality, her passion for nature-based teaching, and her ability to make learning fun. For two years, she led a plant station at Eternal Springs for the younger students, and never failed to get them excited about wetlands. She’s eager to take what she learned during the WCE program and create an outdoor classroom of her own. 

Joyce Ji

Bachelor of Environmental Science student at the University of Manitoba, former participant of the Fort Richmond WCE

Joyce was a diligent and dedicated member of the Fort Richmond WCE. She volunteered to lead field trips at Kelburn Farms for three years in a row, more than any other student in her class. In her final year of the program, she led an independent research project on cattails and their effect on phosphorous levels in ditches. Joyce is excited to continue her learning about wetlands and the environment - and meet others that share her passion - at the University of Manitoba. 

Nathan Zeinstra

Bachelor of Environmental Science student at Guelph University, former participant of the Luther Marsh WCE

Nathan showed tremendous growth during his time at the Luther Marsh WCE. He started out as one of the shyer students, but he pushed himself out of his comfort zone and took on a leadership role when younger students came to the marsh. He’s since taken his passion for conservation to the University of Guelph, where he’s learning about forest management and wildlife restoration in the field.