Richard Slayton ("Dick”) Davis was COA's first philosopher, arriving in the college's second year. He was devoted to examining the philosophical underpinnings of Human Ecology until he passed away in 1982. A brilliant and inspiring teacher, in and out of the classroom, Dick saw both the big picture and the smallest details - and showed how they were interconnected. The Davis Fellowship honors an outstanding student in the contemplative, aesthetic and philosophical aspects of Human Ecology that Dick loved. This award goes to Elizabeth Nappi.
This award honors William Drury - biologist, ecologist, researcher and COA faculty member from 1976 until his death in 1992. Bill helped launch the Master of Philosophy in Human Ecology degree program and received the first honorary MPhil in 1991. Before arriving at COA, Bill served as director of education and director of research at Massachusetts Audubon Society, and taught evolutionary biology and ecology at Harvard from 1952 to 1976. At COA, Bill taught ecology and natural history, investigating with students the connections between plants, landscape, animals, people and culture. This award goes to Laura Briscoe for her excellence in field ecology.
Created in memory of faculty member Craig Greene, who passed away in 2003, this award honors Craig's indomitable spirit, impeccable teaching ability credentials and abundant zest for sharing his extraordinary knowledge of the natural landscape with students, friends and colleagues. The college awards an annual scholarship to a student who has excelled in botany and general biology classes, and who shares Craig's passion for the world of flora. This year's award goes to Tess Faller.
This award was created in memory of founding faculty member Dan Kane, who passed away in 1995. Trained as a lawyer, Dan was a brilliant thinker who taught a wide range of courses, including environmental law, land use, conservation, philosophy, physics, business, and human creativity. In his life, Dan gracefully combined his passion for wild places with his search for creative, interdisciplinary ways to protect them. This award goes to Elspeth Flemings for her work in conservation and conservation law.
The Belkin Prize was created in memory of Herb Belkin, who was executive vice president of Capital Records and later founded Mobile Fidelity Sound Laboratory to produce audio CDs. Herb worked with many nonprofit organizations in support of the arts, conservation and education.
The arts faculty is pleased to award two Belkin prizes this year. Both prizes recognize student projects that go beyond ordinary
undergraduate expectations in size, scope, overall vision and quality of execution.
Katrina Zarate's study of vision, memory and blindness became a mixed-media installation that filled the Blum Gallery to overflowing with original paintings, prose-poems, and the mechanisms of distortion that reflected her own encounter with optical dysfunction and recovery. Her works took the viewer into the crossroads of time and theory that lie behind the distorting eye.
Tawanda Chabikwa's original novel, Barbwire Lullaby, reaches into the heart of a troubled African country to show how personal relationships shift and disintegrate under the pressures of a collapsing state. His story is swift and active; his dialogue is full of irony and humor; his characters and setting so real, readers feel like they've known these people and they've lived in this country all their lives. Tawanda's project also included a full-scale dance productions AND a gallery show of his paintings. Tawanda is a devoted and gifted artist who has given his work to the community in many forms.
The Center for Applied Human Ecology Award is given to a student who has shown outstanding accomplishment in the area of Geographic Information Systems, community planning or other work within communities in the region. On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of CAHE, I am pleased to present the this year's award to John Deans. In his years at COA John has worked tirelessly to interrogate the notion of human ecology and to put it in action on campus and off. Most notably, he has been an articulate, enthusiastic leader in the college's efforts to apply human ecology to the business arena. John is an excellent listener, a thoughtful questioner, and a terrible punster. John has a remarkable ability to present new ideas in a way that makes others excited and not defensive.
Each year an Educational Studies student is selected to receive an award in the name of Edward J. Meade. Ed was a trustee of College of the Atlantic for a number of years, and a strong supporter of the Educational Studies Program here. He died in 1994 at the age of 63. For nearly 30 years Ed was Chief Program Officer for the Ford Foundation's programs and projects related to schools and youth, and improving the quality of public schools. He began at the Ford Foundation in 1960, directing its efforts to improve the professional abilities of teachers and later directed a public education program that encouraged innovative practices among public school teachers.
We are pleased to present this year's Ed Meade Award to Gabe Finklestein. Gabe has demonstrated dedication, creativity, and diligence in his work with students both in public schools and in outdoor and adventure education. He particularly has devoted his efforts to those students who are not succeeding in traditional education programs. Gabe teaches from the heart and is committed to helping all kids find their own entry point and their own voices in education and in life.
Rebecca Clark graduated from College of the Atlantic eleven years ago. She was tragically killed by the December 26, 2004, tsunami in Southeast Asia. At COA, Rebecca focused on marine biology and environmental conservation. She worked at Allied Whale throughout her years here, and also volunteered at the Edward McC. Blair Research Center on Mt. Desert Rock. After graduation, Rebecca surveyed right whales for the New England Aquarium and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, then worked for the Whale Conservation Institute on its Ocean Alliance project. Rebecca was participating in research on sea turtle conservation when she died in Thailand.
To honor her memory, College of the Atlantic awards the Rebecca Clark Memorial Scholarship in Marine Sciences to a rising junior or senior exemplary in dedication, enthusiasm, passion and scholarship in the field of Marine Science and/or Marine Conservation. This year's Rebecca Clark Scholarship is awarded to Kayla Pease.
Kayla is a long standing member of Allied Whale and has spent much of her time here at COA focusing on marine classes. Kayla's devotion to marine conservation, in particular through marine mammal stranding response and rehabilitation, has been outstanding. Kayla recently completed an internship at University of New England working in a state-of-the-art marine mammal rehabilitation facility. During this time she assisted in an ongoing investigation examining recent increases in harbor seal mortality in the wild. Her work within the college's marine mammal stranding program has also been exemplary, and she has become a reliable, consistent responder and technician. Kayla has effectively integrated the science and policy aspects of marine mammal conservation in her academic work. Kayla's long term goal is to open a much needed rehabilitation facility for downeast
Maine. Kayla's passion and dedication to marine mammal rescue is reminiscent of Rebecca Clark's devotion to marine conservation, and for this reason we award Kayla Pease with the 2007 Rebecca Clark Scholarship in Marine Conservation.
John C. Dreier was a diplomat in the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States, and devoted his retirement in Maine to education and conservation. He joined our Board of Trustees in 1973, served as Chairman from 1976-1978, and supported the growth of participatory democracy and the All College Meeting at COA, including initiating its Steering Committee. He was heroic in helping the college recover from the disastrous fire of 1983. The John C.Dreier scholarship is given annually to a junior who has shown leadership in building community spirit both on-campus and in the College's surrounding communities.
This year's John C. Dreier award goes to Amanda Spector, a junior from Kingsville, Maryland. Amanda has been an active and spirited leader in the COA community in a variety of ways. She has served as a resident advisor and has led efforts to increase student awareness about Darfur and other global issues. She has also been integral in organizing the Fandango, a student-led COA event celebrating cultural diversity that also serves as a fund raiser for various charities. She adds considerably to the intellectual climate on campus, bringing a lively mind and cheerful irreverence to the classroom, as well as serving as a talented and generous writing tutor. In her work in the community off campus, she has been a volunteer for several years at Willowind Therapeutic Riding Center, a local stable which serves able-bodied riders as well as those with special needs stemming from physical, mental, or emotional challengessuch as cerebral palsy or autism. Amanda brings flexibility and sensitivity to this work. She is focused, patient, and enthusiastic, and the riders she works with clearly admire her and are inspired by her. College of the Atlantic is proud to honor John Drier, and Amanda, with this award.
John Dreier's wife, Louisa Cabot Richardson Dreier, known to all of us as Isa, was an artist of remarkable talent who, like many women of her times, she set aside her work to the raise her family, all the while keeping her creativity alive through drawings, illustrated writings, and gardens. Coming back to painting later in life, her beautiful still lifes and portraits expressed her humor, happy spirit and her joy in making art. The Isa Dreier Scholarship is given annually to a student who embodies the spirit of joy in the arts. This year's award goes to Diana Escobedo Lastiri, a second-year student from Mexico City, Mexico.
Diana has brought to her studies at COA a depth and range of skills that almost defy characterization. She has shown extraordinary talent and dedication to art, especially in film, video, and photography. She brings to her artwork a remarkable intellectual depth and a critical eye. Equally important, she brings a keen visual aesthetic and an interest in narrative and storytelling to her other academic work in anthropology, philosophy, history, and mathematics. Diana possess both remarkable creativity as well as self-discipline and motivation. Diana is always generous in lending a helping hand and in thoughtfully discussing ideas with other students, faculty, and staff. Diana embodies the searching, interdisciplinary, and artistic spirit
that is a hallmark of College of the Atlantic.
The August Heckscher Scholarship is awarded to one male and one female student whose work focuses on public lands, government, or the arts. This award went to Ivan Willig and Jasmine Smith.
Long before she came to COA, Jasmine was actively involved in public lands, both in the White Mountain National Forest near her home and with the Allagash National Wild & Scenic River. She has continued to do work in this area at COA both through volunteer efforts with the Union River Watershed Coalition and through her classwork. Jasmine's particular focus is on educating youth about the values of wild places and protected areas and using wild public lands as a way to engage youth in the bigger issues facing society.
Ivan Willig, a third-year student from Los Angeles, has excelled in classes in land use planning and design. A thoughtful, kind student with wide ranging interests and talents, he has a particular gift for thinking outside the box while maintaining a pragmatic focus on whatever project he is working one.
The Eleanor Scott Mallinckrodt Prize is awarded annually to a continuing student who has shown a passion for and excellence in landscape architecture or related fields. This year's Mallinckrodt prize was awarded to Tyler Gordon. Tyler has excelled in architecture and landscape design and has shown a special enthusiasm for our own campus landscape.
The Maurine and Robert Rothschild Scholarship is awarded to students who hope to work in the field of education. This award went to graduate student, Amanda Hookyas. As part of her work at the college she has played a leadership role in planning a pilot COA summer class for high school students and has helped to coordinate numerous outdoor programs.
The Alice Blum Yoakum Scholarship is awarded to a student who plans to work for conservation of biodiversity of marine species in various parts of the world. This year's award was given to Tara Stevens.
Tara has excelled in her classes and has been extensively involved in the research activities of Allied Whale. She has worked for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada in Newfoundland, where she completed surveys of the relatively unstudied northwest Atlantic killer whale. More recently, Tara did work in British Columbia, also for DFO Canada, where she has begun acoustic and census studies of the offshore killer whale in the Pacific Ocean. It is a measure of her talent and energy that both of the Canadian institutions she worked with want her back as soon as she graduates. |
