Courier Post: Wildlife-loving NJ students can win up to $1,000 in scholarship money

Story By: Sheri Berkery, Cherry Hill Courier-Post

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation invites high schools students from across the state to submit an original social media campaign showing the importance of protecting rare wildlife in New Jersey. The “Species on the Edge 2.0” contest is in its fifth year and sponsored by the PSEG Foundation.

Do you have a teen who loves animals and getting out in nature?

You might want to encourage him or her to spend more time on the phone — at least for one specific project.

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey is inviting high school students from across the state to participate in a social-media contest to win scholarship money.

The “Species on the Edge 2.0” Social Media Contest encourages teens to leverage their digital knowledge for the chance to win prizes.

The nonprofit foundation asks students to submit an original social-media campaign showing why it’s important to protect wildlife in New Jersey. The contest aims to help develop students’ experience in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) and their project-management skills.

Students will create their own content — such as a video, photo or computer graphic — or use existing Conserve Wildlife Foundation content to craft Facebook posts for the nonprofit’s page.

Entrants can choose to advocate for one of New Jersey’s endangered species; the protection of beaches, shorelines and marine waters; or the need for safer wildlife crossings and corridors.

Winners will be determined by the number of Facebook likes.

First prize in the contest is $1,000 in scholarship money, the second-place winner gets $500, and third prize is $250. All who enter will be eligible to win a day in the field with a wildlife biologist.

The contest deadline is May 3.

Sheri Berkery: @SheriBerkery; 856-486-2673; sberkery@gannettnj.com

• For full contest rules, go to conservewildlifenj.org/education/edge2.0