Parry Environmental Scholarship
Thank you for your interest in the Bob and LaRae Parry Environmental Scholarship, funded by St. Mark Presbyterian Church. St. Mark is a friendly, socially concerned, and environmentally aware congregation, a church with “open minds and open arms.” The people of St. Mark are committed to giving to mission activities, and their response to catastrophe, whether domestic or foreign, is immediate and generous.
Long aware of the environmental depredation that has become more and more serious over time, St. Mark formed an active committee, the Ecophilians, whose focus is on ecology, the environment, and ways to ameliorate the damage being done to the Earth, God’s gracious gift to humanity. The committee and the scholarship were the result of many hours of work and dedication by the Rev. Bob and LaRae Parry, long time members of St. Mark. They served in many aspects of the life of the church, but saw their special roles as advocates for the environment.
The scholarships are generally awarded for $1,500 each and are offered to full time college level Junior, Senior, or Graduate students enrolled at an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Click here for Scholarship Background Information
Congratulations to the 2008 Scholarship Recipients!
Devon Ahearn is a student in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs:Certificate (minor) in Environmental Studies, at Princeton University. Devon feels that all individuals deserve access to a clean sustainable environment and sees a link between religious faith and environmental concern. She believes the availability of such an environment to every individual to be central to her role as a Christian, to promote social justice and compassion through community service. Devon plans a career in environment-related public service.
Glenn Gookin is a graduate student at UCI currently majoring in Environmental Toxicology. His career goals include conducting pulmonary toxicology research as a clinician. Glenn connected his religious faith and the environment through a goal to improve the public health of the world. He helped organize and participated in teaching basic public health changes to improve the quality of life, along with biblical outreach, with church mission projects in Alaska, Arizona and Mexico. Glenn has had a role with the Clinica Carino, a student run medical referral service at UCI as well as the newly opened UCI Student-Run Free Clinic, a full medical clinic dedicated to serving the underserved.
Time Line for 2009 Scholarship Application
Application Available - November 1, 2008
Application Deadline - March 1, 2009
Scholarship Award Announced - April 2009
St. Mark - The Greenest New Church in America!
Click here to download the article from the November/December 2007 edition of Stewardship News, a publication of Audubon International, that names St. Mark as the greenest new church campus in the United States.