May 08, 2019
Local students awarded environmental trip of a lifetime
Twenty-seven Western Australian and two Victorian high school students have been selected to participate in scientific expeditions in the United States made possible by the Alcoa Foundation.
A total of 63 16 to 18-year-olds from across the globe have been chosen for the NatureBridge expeditions, which bring together like-minded high school students to learn how their actions impact their community and the world around them. The scholars are selected from communities near where Alcoa operates.
The diverse group will head off in July or August to either Yosemite National Park in California or Olympic National Park in Washington where they will learn about team work, reducing climate change and the different cultures of their fellow scholars.
Student Jordan Brown (16), from Harvey, is off to explore Yosemite National Park and is looking forward to the once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
“I’m most excited to meet new people from different cultures who share the same love for the environment,” Jordan said
Alcoa of Australia Managing Director Michael Parker said the NatureBridge program aimed to inspire and empower high school students to become long-term environmental stewards with strong connections to the natural world.
“We are building the next generation of sustainability ambassadors and we strongly believe that being immersed in nature while studying science will have long-term impacts on these young people,” Mr Parker said.
A total of 351 scholarships have been awarded by the Alcoa Foundation since the inaugural NatureBridge expedition in 2014, 84 of them benefiting students from Western Australia. The scholarships cover the cost of airfares, visas and the full two-week program.
ENDS
Media contact:
Corporate Affairs Officer, Cheri Tiglias, 9557 4163, cheri.tiglias@alcoa.com