The inaugural John Broesamle "Local Hero Award" recognizes a high school student for impactful environmental work in the Ventura River and Santa Clara River watersheds. The award is to be given annually to an applicant who embodies Broesamle's values-conservation, community, integrity, honesty, and perseverance-in creating and executing a project that addresses an environmental challenge(s) in or around their local community.

Students are required to conceive of, execute, and document the solution they implemented in the aforementioned watersheds. Projects will be evaluated on their significance, lasting impact, and their replicability elsewhere.

Applicants may seek the award for work already completed (during grades 9-12), work in progress, or a planned project. A mentor is available to any student in need of support conceptualizing and advising their project. Seed funding for project execution is conditionally available on a request and approval basis.

The Local Hero Award-sponsored by the Turtle Conservancy-will be announced at an awards gala at the El Roblar Hotel in May 2025. Five finalists will each present a tri-fold poster describing their project, and each will be awarded a bronze plaque of a Southwestern Pond Turtle.

Articles published in local newspapers will recognize each finalist's effort. The winning project will receive a $5,000 unrestricted cash prize.

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