Au Sable Institute announced today that the 2023 recipient of the Calvin B. DeWitt Leadership Fellowship is Anna Shoup of Olivet Nazarene University. Anna is finishing her second year at ONU and is triple majoring in Environmental Science, Geology, and Philosophy! This summer she will be enrolled in two courses at Au Sable’s Pacific Rim campus on Whidbey Island, WA.

In her application for the award, when asked to reflect on her personal faith, future goals, and aspirations, Anna stated, "Considering creation as being of the Creator, to be in right relationship with the natural world is inseparable from being in right relationship with God. This spiritual interdependence provides much of the framework for my personal faith walk, and living by example becomes a crucial point of emphasis as I attempt to address my own relationship with the Lord."

The Calvin B. DeWitt Leadership is the largest and most prestigious fellowship offered at the Au Sable Institute. With a value of US $5100, students must demonstrate academic excellence and a record of accomplishment with a high potential for continued leadership in Christian environmental stewardship, much like that of Dr. Calvin DeWitt, the Institute’s Founding Executive Director. Cal displayed visionary leadership as he led Au Sable for its first two decades as an Institute and engaged with the wider Christian community to care for God’s earth out of joy for the good gift of creation and out of our responsibility as earth keepers for serving and protecting it.

Congratulations, Anna! We look forward to having you with us.