The Camden Conference is pleased to announce the selection of this year’s recipient of the Mathew R. Simmons scholarship. Kelsey Ouellette, from Winthrop, Maine, is a Senior Environmental Studies Major/Education Minor at the University of New England. Kelsey has an excellent academic record, placing her on the Dean’s list throughout her college career. She has further demonstrated her involvement in the field with activism on a variety of environmental and social issues, including serving as vice-president of the student environmental group, Earth’s ECO, and participating as a member of UNE’s Habitat for Humanity Club.

Her professor, Rick Peterson describes her “commitment to high quality academic work, enthusiasm and passion for learning and strong critical thinking skills.” All students applying for the scholarship were asked to submit a short essay as to why they would like to attend the Conference. In Kelsey’s essay she said, “The Conference will help me understand more about political issues of food and water around the globe, which I can then relate back to my work. I am especially interested to learn about how politics differ globally in relation to this topic and how I might be able to make a difference in this sector.”

The Simmons Scholarship was created by the Camden Conference in memory of Mathew R. Simmons, a longtime supporter of the Conference and keynote speaker at the 2002 Conference. The scholarship provides the chance for a student to attend the Conference, lodging in Camden, and opportunities for the student to interact with speakers, Conference attendees, and other students.

The mission of the Camden Conference is to foster informed discourse on world affairs through year-round community events, public and student engagement, and an annual weekend Conference. The next Conference, “The Global Politics of Food and Water,” will take place February 21-23, 2014. For more information, visit www.camdenconference.org, email info@camdenconference.org, or call 207-236-1034.