Wheaton Student Wins $3,500 DuPage Foundation Scholarship

WHEATON, IL -- Two local students have just been awarded $3,500 scholarships by the Paul D. Pierotti Memorial Scholarship Fund, a part of the DuPage Foundation. The students were recognized at the Conservation Foundation Spring Membership and Awards Luncheon at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton.

Leah Theodor, 18, of Oswego, and Nina Hulet, 18, of Wheaton, were the recipients of the scholarships. Applicants must have an interest in working in the environmental field, according to the press release. Eligible students are from DuPage, Kane, Kendall or Will Counties.

Theodor is a graduate of Oswego High School who plans to study environmental science at a university in the Chicago area. A National Honor Society member, she has volunteered for the Fox Valley Wildlife Center and is an active member of the La Menu Modelle 4-H Club.

Hulet is a graduate of Benet Academy in Lisle and plans to study biology and environmental science. She spent two summers with the Willowbrook Wildlife Center as a junior naturalist and was selected for an internship at the Shedd Aquarium.

The scholarships were established at the DuPage Foundation by Former Forest Preserve District of DuPage County President D. "Dewey" Pierotti, Jr. and his wife Leslie in 2006. Since then, the scholarship has awarded students with over $70,000 in their son Paul's name.

The Conservation Foundation, headquartered in Naperville, is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. It has helped preserve nearly 33,000 acres of open space according to the press release, and has restored and cleaned miles of rivers and streams.

Their work focuses on DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties to restore and preserve nature. Visit the Conservation Foundation's website for more information.

The DuPage Foundation works to connect donors to areas in need and to build community partnerships. It makes grants to not-for-profit arts, culture, education, environmental, health and human services organizations. Find more information at the DuPage Foundation website.

Article image: D. “Dewey” Pierotti (right) and his daughter Lynn Boerman (left) with the 2017 recipients of the Paul D. Pierotti Memorial Scholarships, from left: Leah Theodor, Nina Hulet, and Laura Ernst with the DuPage Foundation | provided by the Conservation Foundatio