Justin Krisch-Derr

Roan Ontjes-De Groot

The San Juan Preservation Trust is pleased to announce this year’s Climate Leadership Scholarship winners: Congratulations to Justin Krisch-Derr and Roan Ontjes-De Groot. They both graduated in June from Orcas Island High School, and both plan to attend Western Washington University to concentrate in environmental science.

For the fourth year in 2023, a committee of Preservation Trust board members selected a pair of high school seniors from a truly impressive group of applicants from across San Juan County. Justin and Roan will each receive a $4,000 scholarship, awarded in two $2,000 increments for each of their first two years of college. The intent of the scholarships is to recognize and encourage students in our island communities who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment, effort, and imagination in addressing the issue of climate change, and who plan a course of collegiate study that equips them to advance their climate leadership goals.

Here’s a snippet of Justin and Roan’s thoughts on receiving the award:

Justin Krisch-Derr

I know this [scholarship] is going to help me in my future and give me a greater chance of pursuing something I love in college and as a career.

Roan Ontjes-De Groot

This scholarship gives a lot of people that extra push and emphasizes environmental leadership. So thank you — it means a lot!

Meet Justin and Roan in this brief video:

To date, the SJPT Climate Leadership Scholarships have been funded entirely by contributions from members of the Preservation Trust’s board of directors. Join them in supporting the next generation of climate leaders: Donate to the scholarship fund.