FSPW awards scholarships to Bonner County students

By Reader Staff

With budding scholars across the country preparing to continue their education, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is proud to lend a helping hand. 

Travis Tuttle.

The wilderness organization awarded scholarships to seven Idaho and Montana students who submitted essays about their wilderness experiences. Winning students earned their awards by demonstrating an appreciation for wilderness values and capturing those values in their stories. 

In Bonner County, Travis Tuttle of Forrest Bird Charter School wrote about his experience climbing Mt. Whitney in California, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. Sophie McMahon of Clark Fork High School detailed the lessons and challenges of her backpacking trip in the Patagonia Wilderness. And Bradley O’Brien of Priest River Lamanna High School covered his time spent hunting in wild places. 

Sophie McMahon.

FSPW staff are asking scholarship-winning students to submit an audio recording of their essay. The recordings will be included in a future episode of the FSPW podcast, “Your Wild Place.” 

Bradley O’Brien.

The Friends thank each student who submitted a scholarship essay. Based on the variety of ideas and enthusiasm in the submitted essays, Idaho and Montana students have a bright future ahead of them. They’re all great examples of why people raise their families in towns with a wild backyard. 

Check out more upcoming events and opportunities at www.scotchmanpeaks.org.