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The Lebanon Valley Conservancy awarded Lebanon Valley College sophomore Evelyn Dyer with the 2021 Richard H. and Karen R. Light Memorial Scholarship May 10. The $2,500 scholarship will go toward her study of environmental chemistry and economics.

The annual scholarship, open to Lebanon County graduating seniors and HACC and LVC students, celebrates students who have demonstrated a passion for the environmental sciences and are pursuing related fields.

“Evelyn was our choice not only because of the high praises she received from her professors for her academic and research work, but for her passionate essay regarding environmental conservation and economics,” said scholarship committee chair Jeanne Boltz in a press release. “With the growing environmental concerns of this century, Evelyn Dyer, as an environmental economist, has the potential to be a future leader in the environmental field, impacting a larger audience.”

At LVC, Dyer is involved with the Biology Club, Environmental Science Club, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and Tri-Beta (LVC’s biological Sciences Service Society). In her application, she talked about her passion for environmental protection and the role of economics in environmental conversations.

“Chemistry was fun; Biology sparked my interest; ecology field trips stole my heart,” Dyer said in her essay. “I opened my eyes completely to the world we live in and how I need to find a way to conserve what is left, protect every little salamander, and prevent future detrimental harm to the environment and the ecosystems within it.”

Dyer received recommendations for the scholarship from LVC assistant professor of biology Dr. Doug Becker and professor of biology Dr. Rebecca Urban.

“She is an excellent student who asks thought-provoking questions, showing depth of thought and often goes beyond the basic premise of coursework,” said Becker in his recommendation.

The scholarship exists in memory of Richard and Karen Light, two Lebanon Valley residents who were heavily involved in local environmental conservation. Applications for the 2022 scholarship will open next January. For more information, take a look at the Lebanon Valley Conservancy’s website.

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Emily Bixler was born and raised in Lebanon and now reports on local government. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano and going for hikes.