LAKE ARIEL, PA — Marshall Davis of Western Wayne High School is the 2023 winner of the Lackawaxen River Conservancy Scholarship. He received his award at Senior Night on June 3. 

Marshall will attend Bloomsburg University, where he will major in environmental geoscience and minor in soil science. He will be preparing for a career in land and resource management. 

An issue of great concern to Marshall is the spread of the woolly adelgid and the serious threat it poses to the Eastern hemlock. “The woolly adelgid isn’t just wiping out any old species of tree,” he said. “It’s wiping out the Pennsylvania state tree—a tree species that has been native to this area for thousands, if not millions of years.” Unfortunately, the only effective way to save the trees is through chemical treatments that are difficult to implement, said a spokesperson for the conservancy.

Marshall’s course load included six Advanced Placement classes. His guidance counselor described him as a student who is never satisfied with “good enough” and who always does things with the utmost integrity.

He participated in Envirothon for three summers, and was selected for Lackawanna Leads—Tomorrow’s Leaders Today. He attained the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts, and was a starting defender on the varsity soccer team. He also played unified track and field for three years. 

Marshall’s concern for the conservation of our nation’s resources has guided his career choice as well as his high school program and activities, the spokesperson said. “It is a cause for optimism that Marshall and other like-minded young people are committed to the protection of our planet.”

The Lackawaxen River Conservancy Scholarship is open to graduating seniors who are attending high school in the Lackawaxen Watershed, and who intend to pursue a career in environmental conservation. Students from Honesdale High School, Wallenpaupack Area High School, Western Wayne High School and the Canaan Christian Academy are eligible. 

 The Lackawaxen River Conservancy is made up of local residents, past and present, from Pike and Wayne counties. It is dedicated to the protection and preservation of the natural splendor of the Lackawaxen River, its watershed and wildlife.

Learn more at www.lackawaxenriver.org.