The Sea Lavender Garden Club is awarding four scholarships with funds raised by the Mother’s Day Plant Sale held at Curtis Park, Manasquan. All of the applicants are highly qualified and will be entering college this fall. Each applicant wrote an essay focused on environmental projects that could realistically and economically be i n  l o c a l be instituted in local communities. Samantha Albeit, from Manasquan and Manasquan High School, will be majoring in Environmental Policy with minors in Pre-Law and Marine Biology at the University of Tampa with a goal to practice Environmental Law. Her essay proposal was to create pollinator mini gardens which promote food sources for wildlife. Using recycled o r r e p u r p o s e d c o n ta i n e r s throughout the community, these gardens would be located in existing or new gardens, and be comprised of native plants, clean water and pollinator houses. Ryan Mary McLaughlin, from Spring Lake Heights and Manasquan High School, will be majoring in Environmental Science at UCLA. Her essay proposal focused on development of a compost program which would provide the community with material to correct soil depletion. Using local food and landscaping waste, the program would reduce the amount of garbage usually brought to landfills. Local management and businesses would be active participants in the program. Reagan Scime, from Manasquan and Manasquan High School, will be majoring in Biology at the University of Alabama with plans to work in the medical sciences. Her essay proposed the introduction of fishing pier regulations to prohibit the disposal of fish carcass waste into the water as this waste is toxic to other living organisms. Fish waste disposal stations at marina and pier locations would be i n s t a l l e d a n d e m p t i e d o n designated garbage days. Sean Galvin, from Spring Lake and Christian Brothers Academy High School, will be majoring in Biological Sciences at Cornell University, NY, with the goal to become a Pediatric Surgeon. His essay proposal was to continue support of CLONet, a Monmouth University organization, that routinely tests coastal lakes for chemical levels. This information is collected weekly by marine biologists with the goal to improve the health of our waterways. The presentation of the scholarships will be held on Friday, June 14 at Curtis Park. All members are welcome to attend.