Meet the 2018 Champions of the Environment
Congratulations to seven 2018 Divert NS Champion of the Environment Scholarship winners. Learn more about these environmental champions, and read their award-winning essays below.
Maria MacDonald
$5,000 PROVINCIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
REGION: ANTIGONISH | GUYSBOROUGH | PICTOU COUNTY
Guysborough Academy
Maria has been a member and co-chair of her school’s Green Team for several years. As part of her involvement with the group, Maria has planted and harvested the school’s garden, which is a collaborative program with the local Waste Management Facility. Maria has also participated in a litter-less lunch campaign, food drives, Adopt-A-Highway Cleanups and fundraised to build a water system for a community in Kenya. As co-chair of the Green Team, Maria planted fruit trees around her school, organized numerous recycling campaigns and fundraised for and constructed an outdoor classroom. Read Maria’s essay >
Courtney DeGiobbi
$2,500 REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
REGION: CAPE BRETON
Breton Education Centre
As president of her school’s Interact Club, Courtney organized and participated in several community litter cleanups and a WE Walk for Water fundraising and awareness campaign for clean water in devel
...
oping countries. Courtney has also helped organize clothing drives and participates in numerous volunteer activities throughout her school and community. Read Courtney’s essay >
Josiane Gibson
$2,500 REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
REGION: COLCHESTER | EAST HANTS | CUMBERLAND
Cobequid Education Centre
As a member of her school’s Environmental Club, Josiane has worked on making Truro an idle-free community, participated in tree planting, helped eliminate the use of plastic cutlery in the school cafe
...
teria, fundraised for endangered species and participated in numerous other environmental activities. Josiane was also editor of the school newspaper, often writing articles about environmental issues. To fundraise for her trip to India this summer for an environmental justice program, Josiane organized a clothing swap and plans to sew and sell re-usable produce bags to help reduce the use of single-use bags. Read Josiane’s essay >
Travis Goswell
$2,500 REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
REGION: HALIFAX
Sackville High
Travis’ passion for the environment started at an early age with his family’s commitment to reduce their environmental footprint. Travis has been involved with his school’s Green Team and founded the
...
ME to WE Club. Through these initiatives, Travis has organized and participated in litter cleanups, tree planting events, awareness and fundraising events regarding the importance of clean water, as well as numerous other environmental protection activities. Read Travis’ essay >
Holly Morrison
$2,500 REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
REGION: ANNAPOLIS VALLEY | KINGS
Western Kings District High
Holly is a long-time member of her school’s Green Team and has also served as the environmental representative on the school council. Holly has organized and promoted several environmental activities
...
throughout her school, such as a sweater day to reduce the need for school heating, a black-out lunch to promote earth hour, and shoreline and school cleanups. Holly is also active within her community, participating in community cleanups with her church. Read Holly's essay >
Acadia Bunin
$2,500 REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
REGION: SOUTH SHORE | WEST HANTS
Avon View High
Acadia founded a volunteer group at her high school called “Teens for Change.” The group fundraises for and completes projects that benefit the school community, including a school litter cleanup. Aca
...
dia has participated in other cleanup events, and over the past nine years, she and her family have been a long-time participants and organizers of a Nova Scotia Adopt-A-Highway cleanup. Read Acadia’s essay >
Jenna Clayton
$2,500 REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
REGION: DIGBY | YARMOUTH
Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High
Jenna has participated in and organized numerous local beach cleanups through the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, the Sea Change Clothing Company and her school’s Interact Club. As a member of Girl Gui
...
des and the local swim team, Jenna has participated in numerous community and roadside cleanups. Jenna is excited to continue her work with environmental activities as she begins her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Environmental Science at Saint Mary’s University this fall. Read Jenna’s essay >