The Harris Center for Conservation Education has named Heidi Bell of ConVal Regional High School and Kaiden Charron of Conant High School as recipients of its 2026 Environmental Leadership Scholarship Award.
The $2,500 scholarships are awarded annually to two graduating seniors who have shown a commitment to environmental issues, a passion for the natural world and an interest in creating positive change in their communities. The awards were presented during each school’s year-end awards ceremony.
Bell plans to attend Northeastern University this fall to major in marine biology. Her interest in ocean conservation began at a young age, when she raised money for the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital by creating and selling hand-painted reusable tote bags, jewelry and other sea-themed items. In high school, she continued her conservation work, including participating in a field ecology research trip to Belize to study coral reefs and rainforest ecology.
Charron plans to attend River Valley Community College to study business administration. He hopes to combine his interest in the outdoors with sustainable business practices by one day owning and operating a family campground focused on environmental stewardship.
The scholarships are funded by an anonymous donor and are intended to support the next generation of environmental leaders.
