OutdoorHub
2025 Scholarship Winners Announced By CCA & Mud Hole Education Program
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida and the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program have, for the fourth consecutive year, supported the growth of the next generation of environmental leaders. The CCA Florida Fred Crabill Youth Scholarship Program, presented by the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program, has announced the 2025 scholarship winners. At the Awards Banquet back on June 19th, students, parents, and officials from CCA Florida and Mud Hole Custom Tackle partook in a catered dinner, a video recap of the week’s activities, and the announcement of the 2025 scholarship recipients. First-place with its $3,000 scholarship was awarded to James Demarco of Pompano Beach. Second-place and its $2,000 scholarship went to Kendall Kreuscher of Lake Worth, and third-place with its $1,000 scholarship went to Candelo Valerio of Homestead.
“In our fourth year supporting CCA Florida’s scholarship efforts, we continue to be impressed by the quality of students competing in this program,” said Anthony Youmans, Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program Director. “Reaching kids, adding value to their education experience, and helping to develop the future conservation leaders in our communities is in perfect alignment with our Education Program goals and is also extremely rewarding for me and the whole Mud Hole organization.”
Mud Hole Custom Tackle’s $6,000 contribution is through the Matt McGuffee College Scholarship Initiative, in honor of the initiative’s namesake, a beloved former employee who passed away too soon at the age of 28 in 2022. On top of their contribution, the Mud Hole team hosts this program’s kick-off and Awards Banquet, documenting the week’s activities with the Mud Hole videography team. 10 competing students came from schools across the state, from Miami to Orange Park. to go travel across the state coast-to-coast to learn how companies help preserve our environment. From the Duke Energy Mariculture Center in Crystal River to Bajio Sunglasses in New Smyrna Beach, the students were taught how conservation and preserving our environment were a key part of each company’s business strategies. Then, the 10 students were also able to build a custom fishing rod at Mud Hole and fish for barramundi at Osceola Outback Adventures. As the week of activities progressed, students were graded on their attention, focus, creativity, presentation, and overall engagement in the learning experiences.
“This year’s competitors were extremely professional and thoughtful about how they can support the preservation of our natural resources” CCA Florida Regional Director, Jimmy Michaels stated. “CCA Florida is honored to bring this scholarship opportunity to the students each year, and we really appreciate the partnership with Anthony and the Mud Hole Education program. Together, we are making a difference for the students and for the environment.”
Additionally, for the third year now, the ten students who participated in this week have the opportunity to earn the $5,000 Grand Scholarship by creating conservation-focused programs at their high schools that positively impact their communities. To learn more about the future-minded CCA Florida Fred Crabill Youth Scholarship Program presented by the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program, visit https://ccaflorida.org/event/ysp/.
About the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program
Since 2008, the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program has been offering teachers and students the chance to explore custom rod building in the classroom. Mud Hole works closely with educators to incorporate custom rod building and tackle crafting into school curricula through professionally developed lesson plans and teaching tools, as well as deeply discounted pricing for rod building and tackle crafting components, tools, equipment, and supplies. Since its inception, the Mud Hole Education Program has reached over 50,000 students through more than 700 schools and youth organizations. Mud Hole Custom Tackle, based in Oviedo, Florida, is the world’s largest supplier of rod building & tackle crafting goods, offering a superior shopping experience at mudhole.com, rapid delivery, industry leading customer service, and world class online content and instruction.
About CCA Florida
The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) was founded in 1977 after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast decimated redfish and speckled trout populations. One of 19 state chapters, CCA Florida became the fifth state chapter in 1985. A 501(c)3 non-profit, the purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. Through habitat restoration projects, water quality initiatives and fisheries advocacy, CCA Florida works with its over 18,000 members including recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts to conserve and enhance marine resources and coastal environments. Join the conversation on Facebook or learn more at ccaflorida.org.
The post 2025 Scholarship Winners Announced By CCA & Mud Hole Education Program appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...
2025 Scholarship Winners Announced By CCA & Mud Hole Education Program
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida and the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program have, for the fourth consecutive year, supported the growth of the next generation of environmental leaders. The CCA Florida Fred Crabill Youth Scholarship Program, presented by the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program, has announced the 2025 scholarship winners. At the Awards Banquet back on June 19th, students, parents, and officials from CCA Florida and Mud Hole Custom Tackle partook in a catered dinner, a video recap of the week’s activities, and the announcement of the 2025 scholarship recipients. First-place with its $3,000 scholarship was awarded to James Demarco of Pompano Beach. Second-place and its $2,000 scholarship went to Kendall Kreuscher of Lake Worth, and third-place with its $1,000 scholarship went to Candelo Valerio of Homestead.
“In our fourth year supporting CCA Florida’s scholarship efforts, we continue to be impressed by the quality of students competing in this program,” said Anthony Youmans, Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program Director. “Reaching kids, adding value to their education experience, and helping to develop the future conservation leaders in our communities is in perfect alignment with our Education Program goals and is also extremely rewarding for me and the whole Mud Hole organization.”
Mud Hole Custom Tackle’s $6,000 contribution is through the Matt McGuffee College Scholarship Initiative, in honor of the initiative’s namesake, a beloved former employee who passed away too soon at the age of 28 in 2022. On top of their contribution, the Mud Hole team hosts this program’s kick-off and Awards Banquet, documenting the week’s activities with the Mud Hole videography team. 10 competing students came from schools across the state, from Miami to Orange Park. to go travel across the state coast-to-coast to learn how companies help preserve our environment. From the Duke Energy Mariculture Center in Crystal River to Bajio Sunglasses in New Smyrna Beach, the students were taught how conservation and preserving our environment were a key part of each company’s business strategies. Then, the 10 students were also able to build a custom fishing rod at Mud Hole and fish for barramundi at Osceola Outback Adventures. As the week of activities progressed, students were graded on their attention, focus, creativity, presentation, and overall engagement in the learning experiences.
“This year’s competitors were extremely professional and thoughtful about how they can support the preservation of our natural resources” CCA Florida Regional Director, Jimmy Michaels stated. “CCA Florida is honored to bring this scholarship opportunity to the students each year, and we really appreciate the partnership with Anthony and the Mud Hole Education program. Together, we are making a difference for the students and for the environment.”
Additionally, for the third year now, the ten students who participated in this week have the opportunity to earn the $5,000 Grand Scholarship by creating conservation-focused programs at their high schools that positively impact their communities. To learn more about the future-minded CCA Florida Fred Crabill Youth Scholarship Program presented by the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program, visit https://ccaflorida.org/event/ysp/.
About the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program
Since 2008, the Mud Hole Custom Tackle Education Program has been offering teachers and students the chance to explore custom rod building in the classroom. Mud Hole works closely with educators to incorporate custom rod building and tackle crafting into school curricula through professionally developed lesson plans and teaching tools, as well as deeply discounted pricing for rod building and tackle crafting components, tools, equipment, and supplies. Since its inception, the Mud Hole Education Program has reached over 50,000 students through more than 700 schools and youth organizations. Mud Hole Custom Tackle, based in Oviedo, Florida, is the world’s largest supplier of rod building & tackle crafting goods, offering a superior shopping experience at mudhole.com, rapid delivery, industry leading customer service, and world class online content and instruction.
The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) was founded in 1977 after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast decimated redfish and speckled trout populations. One of 19 state chapters, CCA Florida became the fifth state chapter in 1985. A 501(c)3 non-profit, the purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. Through habitat restoration projects, water quality initiatives and fisheries advocacy, CCA Florida works with its over 18,000 members including recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts to conserve and enhance marine resources and coastal environments. Join the conversation on Facebook or learn more at ccaflorida.org.
The post 2025 Scholarship Winners Announced By CCA & Mud Hole Education Program appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...