The Jefferson County Democrats plan to award as many as f our Phil Johnson Environmental Studies Scholarships in the amount of $500 each.

The award is restricted to graduating high school seniors or college students who are Jefferson County residents as of May 31, 2017. The intent of the scholarships is to assist, encourage and recognize students pursuing studies in environmental education, according to a press release.

The applications are available at area schools. Anyone who has questions or is interested in requesting an application can do so by emailing

info@jeffcodemocrats.com

or calling 379-5655.

Phil Johnson, a former Jefferson County commissioner, is a native son who grew up experiencing and appreciating the environment of the Olympic Peninsula. As a community leader, he helped usher in stronger county rules, such as the critical-areas ordinance and the Shoreline Management Act, in order to protect the environment and kept the county in compliance with the Growth Management Act.

As a county commissioner, one of Johnson’s big successes was preventing net-pen fish farming from developing in Jefferson County waters, the release noted.

Monies for the scholarships were a result of a successful silent auction event hosted by the Jefferson County Democrats on Earth Day. The auction brought in more than $5,000 from attendees, who bid on items ranging from garden tools to original art to biplane and kayak rides.

Johnson, who was present at the event, spoke to the crowd. There were tributes from Jefferson County Clerk Ruth Gordon, past and present county commissioners, and Peter Bahls, executive director of the Northwest Watershed Institute.

“More than that, though, he was instrumental in some of the biggest conservation victories of the past 15 years. He was never afraid to go to bat for a good conservation cause,” Bahls said.