Au Sable Institute announced today that the 2024 recipient of the Calvin B. DeWitt Leadership Fellowship is Cady Peterson of Bethel University in Minnesota. Cady is finishing her third year at Bethel and is majoring in Environmental Science and Spanish! Cady studied at Au Sable’s Pacific Rim campus last summer and will be joining us again this summer for two courses at Au Sable’s Great Lakes campus.

In her application for the award, when asked to reflect on her personal faith, future goals, and aspirations, Cady stated, “My personal faith has always been an important part of my life. However, it wasn’t until last summer at Au Sable’s Pacific Rim Campus that my two ‘worlds’ of science and faith really collided. I learned that the two realms not only coexist but support each other. This lifted a weight off my shoulders, and I now feel more motivated and fulfilled in my desire to care for the earth.”

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, Cady! We look forward to having you with us.