In memory of Richard Dumouchel, a beloved former trustee of the Foundation, each year the Weekapaug Foundation for Conservation awards a University of Rhode Island Natural Resources Science (NRS) student with a scholarship for their studies.
2022 Scholarship Recipient: Patrick Felkner
Patrick Felker is a Wildlife and Conservation Biology major at the University of Rhode Island in the graduating class of 2023. He is from North Kingstown, Rhode Island and is an avid birder passionate about conservation. Patrick is currently a member of the board of the Ocean State Bird Club.
From August 2021-April 2022 he participated in surveys through URI collecting data on waterbirds and how they may be impacted by the presence of aquaculture. During the summer of 2022, Patrick worked as a Visitor’s Service Intern with the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, helping with refuge events and outreach as well as monitoring shorebird disturbance. Patrick is passionate about continuing his work in wildlife conservation and protection in his future career.
Past Recipients
| 2022 Patrick Felkner
2021 Kylie Rezendes 2020 Emma Paton 2019 Alicia Jones 2018 Sadie DeCurtis 2017 Ryan Healy 2016 Anthony “Ant” Sawaia 2015 Gillian Baird 2014 Mary Grande 2013 Marianne Diffin |
2012 Joshua Sargent
2011 Ryan Kleinert 2010 Charleve Carey 2009 Cynthia Maynard 2008 Ben Vinhateiro 2007 Samantha Petzold 2006 Malcolm Grant 2005 Grace Lentini 2004 Jeffrey Backer |
How Recipients Are Chosen
To be eligible, a student must be majoring in either Environmental Science and Management or Wildlife and Conservation Biology and have grown up in Westerly or Washington County RI.
A committee of URI NRS faculty members reviews and ranks the eligible applicants based on their resumes, their experience working on conservation projects, their GPA, and their commitment to conservation. Nominees are forwarded to the Weekapaug Foundation for Conservation for consideration.