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The Gerald C. Corcoran Education Grant

Up to $1000 for Environmental Education Projects to be Awarded in 2008

Grant Available for Projects to Educate the Public about Native Fishes

In 2008 the North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) is again offering up to $1000 to sponsor a project or projects to educate the general public about native North American fishes and their environment. The Gerald C. Corcoran Education Grant will fund such educational projects as:

  • Producing and distributing educational materials
    (books, brochures, posters, displays, video, Internet resources, etc.)

  • Stream surveys with public education as a primary goal

  • Public lectures

  • Nature center displays

  • School materials and displays

  • Teacher training workshops
© Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

The award was established in memory of past NANFA President Gerald C. Corcoran, who stressed public education regarding the continent's native fishes. NANFA is an organization made up of home and professional aquarists, university and other professional researchers, conservationists, anglers and naturalists. As its name implies, the group is dedicated to the study and conservation of North America's native fishes.

Grant proposals are due March 31, 2008. Proposals will be evaluated and ranked by a review committee, and funding awarded on June 1, 2008. Qualifying applicants must be members of NANFA but non-members may submit their annual dues with their proposals. For additional information, contact:

Sajjad Lateef
600 Park View Drive, Apt. 211
Santa Clara, CA 95054

Past NANFA Education Grant Recipients

2007
Andy Starostka of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Columbia, MO) will receive $1,500 for the development and production of a set of "Fish of the Big Muddy" playing cards. The face of the cards will show the suit and rank (ace of spades, two of hearts, etc.) along with artwork of a Missouri River fish, its common and Latin names, conservation status, and a short descriptive text. Fifty-four species will be featured (the standard French deck plus two jokers). The cards will be distributed to schools, nature centers and other educational outreach venues.

2006
Aldemaro Romero (Arkansas State University) and Ginny Adams (University of Central Arkansas) were awarded $938.65 for the creation of a Web site devoted to North America's little-known cave fishes. Download a Word file of their proposal here.

2005
NANFA awarded two Corcoran Education Grants this year.

  • Jeff Grabarkiewicz of Mauhmee, OH, was awarded $1000 to help fund The Traveling Native Fish Showcase.
    PDF of Jeff's proposal.
  • Christopher Gutmann, a Naturalist at the Fullersburg Woods Nature Center in Oak Brook, IL, was awarded $981 for his Kids in the Creek program.
    PDF of Christopher's proposal.

2004
John Brill of Livingston, NJ, was awarded the 2004 Corcoran Education Grant for a photographic exhibition, Freshwater Fishes of the Northeastern United States (with Special Reference to Species of the Passaic River Drainage and Great Swamps Wetlands). A PDF copy of his report for American Currents is available here.

2003
The Clinton Community Nature Center in Clinton, Mississippi, was the 2003 recipient for their Get to Know Native Fishes program. A PDF copy of their report for American Currents is available here.

2002
The 2002 recipient was the Selman Living Laboratory (SLL), located in northwestern Oklahoma.

2001
There were two 2001 recipients, thanks to generous donations from the Corcoran family:

2000
The first recipient of the NANFA education grant was NANFA Ohio Representative Rob Carillio. Carillio has been active for several years in a local coalition to defend and celebrate the Mahoning River in Warren, OH. Carillio received the award for developing a large, all-weather sign which he posted along the river to describe the fishes of the Mahoning as well as the value of development-free zone to conserve river habitat.

© 2005-2008 North American Native Fishes Association