The Rockfall Foundation Awards Scholarship to Konrad Dudziuk

The Rockfall Foundation has selected Konrad Dudziuk of Cromwell High School to receive the 2023 Virginia R. Rollefson Environmental Leadership Scholarship.

Konrad has been a member and officer of the Cromwell High School Carbon Club all four years of high school, including three years as President. The club meets monthly with students and faculty to promote sustainability and raise awareness about environmental issues. As President of the Carbon Club Konrad was responsible for the club’s event planning, fundraising and coordination of projects. “The Carbon Club allowed me to learn and spread my knowledge about important environmental topics like environmental disasters, plastic pollution, recycling, upcycling, composting, electric vehicles, and much more.”

During COVID the Carbon Club stayed engaged with remote meetings and activities. When in-person meeting restrictions were relaxed, Konrad prioritized getting environmental actions back into the club. Projects included river cleanups at River Highlands State Park, the construction of a school compost bin, fundraisers featuring locally made products like birdhouses and presentations for the school’s Earth Day activities.

The $1,000 scholarship is awarded each year to recognize leadership and initiative by a high school junior or senior residing in Middlesex County, Lyme, or Old Lyme for a program, project, or activity that benefits preservation, conservation, restoration or environmental education. Last year’s recipient was Kareena Patel of Cromwell High School for her Together We Sustain Eco-Inspired Mural.

Founded in 1935, The Rockfall Foundation supports environmental education, conservation in the Lower Connecticut River Valley through public programs and grants. The Rockfall Foundation also operates the historic deKoven House Community Center that offers meeting and event room rentals and office space for non-profit organizations.

For additional information about the Virginia R. Rollefson Environmental Leadership Scholarship or The Rockfall Foundation, please visit www.rockfallfoundation.org .