The Dolores (Deo) Fisher Award will be given annually to one young woman between the ages of 16 and 21 or to one young woman between 22 and 30. Finalists in each age group will compete for the $1,000 cash award and trophy.

Requirements for the award are completion of the application form for the appropriate age category; a 1000-word essay; a written statement of career goals; and three letters of recommendation. Applications must be received by March 15, 2008.

 The successful candidate will create a compelling essay describing how she hopes to make a difference in the world through her passion for the oceans. In describing career goals and her progress toward those goals, each candidate will describe how the Deo Fisher award will help her meet those goals. Career paths considered appropriate for the award are listed on the web site and include, but are not limited to, acoustics, cartography, navigation, diving technology, marine biology, oceanography, ship design, underwater photography and marine archaeology. The winner will be invited to spend time behind-the-scenes at the Maritime Museum.

THE DOLORES E. FISHER AWARD 2007

The 2007 winner is Ms. Alexandra Maria Avila of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Alexandra is a junior in biology and environmental science at Hood College in Frederick, MD and presently on a semester abroad in Quito, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. She is thoroughly bilingual in English and Spanish. In answer to the question: What personality characteristics do you value most about yourself and why? Alexandra comments: “Foremost honesty. If everyone were honest, our society would be an ever-somuch- better place. Also, my tenacity, my free spirit, my joy of living, my curiosity about the world around me, my willingness to work hard for what I believe in.” Her essay is entitled MY WATER WORLD.

Her experiences include: Biology Technician and Wildland Firefighter for the U. S. Forest Service in Mt. Hood National Forest; Biology Tutor at Hood College; Intern, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, MD; Participant in Hood’s Coastal Semester therefore visiting Florida laboratories and field stations. She has been honored as a state finalist for the Miss Maryland USA pagent, has received a Merit Scholarship and Hispanic Scholarship Fund Awards.

She is listed in Who’s Who in American High Schools (2001-2004). For fun it is carpentry, electronics, photography, acting, painting and sculpting. Congratulations Alexandra! You are indeed passionate about the oceans and extremely motivated.

2007 RUNNER-UP: Ms. Megan R. McWhite
Click here to read her essay

Megan Rose McWhite Lamson shares a common heritage with our director Dr. Madeleine Burnside. Both are graduates of the University of California Santa Cruz – (“Go banana slugs!”). At UCSC Megan was on the Dean’s List, awarded Highest Honors in her major and was admitted into Phi Beta Kappa. Megan is presently finishing her first year of a two-year graduate program in tropical conservation biology and environmental science at the University of Hawaii, Hilo. She volunteers as a soccer coach, Hawksbill Turtle Monitoring Observer, and as a marine naturalist.

Her hope is to inspire and inform the next generation to appreciate their natural surroundings and to acquire a mind-set of sustainability and conservation. The personality characteristics that she values: “I’ve got drive and determination that won’t fail. I love that when I put my mind to something I am committed until the end. I display power and confidence like a good leader, yet I pride myself more in my ability to listen and observe. Megan’s essay was entitled BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CONSERVATION, RESEARCH, and COMMUNITIES: A tale from one marine ecologist in the making. Megan too is fluent in English and Spanish. Congratulations to you Megan! We wish you continued success in every endeavor.

THE DOLORES E. FISHER AWARD 2006


FIRST PLACE
MS. ERIN MYERS
Click here to read her essay
 

Erin Myers is the 2006 Dolores E. Fisher Award Winner. Erin distinguished herself early in life – at age 23 to be exact. She undertook a 30,000-mile circumnavigation of the globe as Captain and Expedition Leader of the 43-foot ketch MAKULU II. Her essay is entitled “From Sea to Shining Sea”. The personality characteristic that Erin values most about herself is the ability to be a team leader and to identify and encourage team members’ strengths to create a dynamic and positive environment. She did this for nearly three years with a crew of four for the educational journey REACH THE WORLD (www.reachtheworld.org), bringing her adventures into the inner-city classrooms via the Internet. Erin continues to lead and intends to start graduate school in environmental science and management.

Andrea Rivera is the winner of the younger category (ages 16-21) with an award of $500. The title of Andrea’s essay is “Ocean Dreaming”. Andrea was born in Honduras and as a young teenager moved to New Jersey. The personality characteristic that Andrea values most about herself is her involvement and motivation to become involved and inspire others to help and actively pursue ways to help the marine environment. She is presently attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa. After graduation, Andrea hopes to return to Honduras to develop strategies to couple development with sustainability of the mangrove and coral reef ecosystems.

Honorable Mention
MS. ASHLEY ROSE BAKER
Click here to read her essay

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2006 WINNERS LIST

2005  Dolores E. Fisher Award Winners



First Place Winner:
MS. LEDA CUNNINGHAM

Ms. Leda Cunningham, age 27, is the 2005 Dolores E. Fisher Award winner. Leda is a candidate for an MBA/MA in Global Environmental Policy at American University in Washington, DC. Her experience includes being Dive Outreach Coordinator for the National Environmental Trust for the Conserve Our Oceans Legacy (COOL) campaign. Included in her success is “Dive into Earth Day” a SCUBA certification course for members of Congress and their staff. She supervised formation of the Capital Hill Dive Club. She and others have recruited 150 plus dive groups in 26 states as signatories to COOL. Previously Leda was first an intern and then office manager for the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) in Key Largo, Florida. One reviewer said of Leda “What makes Leda so exceptional is her ability to effectively act in support of her passion.” The title of her essay is “Beneath the Sea: Protecting Earth’s Last True Wilderness from Below.”

Click here to read her essay.

First Runner Up
MS. MARIA WOJAKOWSKI

Second Runner-Up:
MS. ELLY A. SPEICHER

Third Runner-Up:
MS. JESSICA MAHER

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Click Name To Read Essay
 

Thank You To All Of Our Applicants!