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June 12, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

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1 Homepage Slider Spy Chats Education WC

A Talbot County Star at the Starr Center: A Chat with Jaelon Moaney

March 11, 2024 by James Dissette

Jaelon Moaney’s appointment as Deputy Director of the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College is a full–circle return to his roots on the Eastern Shore.

A tenth-generation son of Talbot and Kent County, his ancestors helped found Copperville, the only American village founded by once-enslaved soldiers. They also helped establish the earliest free Black community known as “The Hill” in Easton.

A graduate of Easton High School and a B.A. with honors from Williams College as a political science major, Moaney’s journey back to the Cambridge area has been replete with education, preservation, and state-level engagements to not only foster an understanding of Black history but to promote and advocate learning projects honoring the “legacies and landscapes” of Delmarva.

Co-founder of the Needles Eye Academy in Talbot County, a project to promote the “literary empowerment for the Black & Brown youth of MD’s Eastern Shore”—covered in the Spy here—Moaney was recently appointed by Gov. Wes Moore to be on the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.

Moaney has emerged as a prominent figure in the national preservation movement in the United States, championing causes on Capitol Hill and state capitols nationwide. His deep policy knowledge and advocacy efforts played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, encompassing Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and southern Prince George’s counties. President Joe Biden signed this designation into law in January 2023. Additionally, his achievements include securing the confirmation of the Hon. Sara C. Bronin, the first person of color to chair the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the expansion and redesignation of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park to include four locations outside of the original site in Kansas. He also played a key role in establishing the Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area in Chicago, Illinois, and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Texas.

Director of the Starr Center Adam Goodheart writes, “All of us at the Starr Center are thrilled to have Jaelon as the newest member of our leadership team. He comes to us with vision, passion, and an impressive record of community engagement and public service, as well as strong professional connections throughout Maryland and beyond. What’s more, he’s a proud native son of the Eastern Shore who draws inspiration from that legacy and is eager to share it with others. We can expect to see him at the helm of some exciting initiatives ahead.”

Jaelon Moaney recently shared his vision of working with the Starr Center with the Spy last week.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about the Starr Center at Washington College please go here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 1 Homepage Slider, Spy Chats, WC

George Washington Prize Winner Maurizio Valsania to Speak at Washington College

January 30, 2024 by Washington College News Service

George Washington Prize Winner 2 Maurizio Valsania

The Starr Center for the American Experience will be hosting a conversation and Q&A with Maurizio Valsania, winner of the 2023 George Washington Prize and author of First Among Men: George Washington and the Myth of American Masculinity. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Monday, February 5 at 6:00 p.m.  at The Toll Science Center in Litrenta Hall at Washington College.  A reception will follow.

 The George Washington Prize is one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious literary awards and honors its namesake by recognizing the year’s best new books on the nation’s founding era, especially those that engage a broad public audience. Created in 2005 by George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and Washington College, past winners of the $50,000 prize include Ron Chernow, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nathaniel Philbrick, Annette Gordon-Reed, and Rick Atkinson. Valsania was presented with the award in September 2023 at The Union Club in New York City.
Valsania’s First Among Men (Johns Hopkins University Press) examines the 19th century perspective of an 18thcentury man, dispelling the myth that George Washington was larger than life. Readers are shown a different side of Washington, a human universally susceptible to the whims and challenges of life as opposed to the hero without parallel portrayed in later decades.
“Maurizio Valsania has written a fresh, lively take on George Washington that places him squarely in the context of his time, stripping away centuries of accreted myth and mystique,” said Adam Goodheart, the Starr Center’s Hodson Trust-Griswold Director, who will moderate the event. “Of all the books that I’ve read about our nation’s founding leader, this is the one that most made me feel that I was in the presence of the man himself.”
Valsania is a professor of American History at the University of Turin in Italy. As a scholar of the Early American Republic, he examines the founders within their social, intellectual, and material context, especially through the lens of the 18th century body. He is the author of The Limits of Optimism: Thomas Jefferson’s Dualistic Enlightenment (University of Virginia Press, 2011); Nature’s Man: Thomas Jefferson’s Philosophical Anthropology (University of Virginia Press, 2013); and Jefferson’s Body: A Corporeal Biography (University of Virginia Press, 2017).
Valsania is the recipient of several fellowships from leading academic institutions, including the American Antiquarian Society, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the Library Company, the John D. Rockefeller Library, the DAAD (Germany), the International Center for Jefferson Studies, and the George Washington’s Mount Vernon. He has written for the Oxford University Press’s Academic Insights for the Thinking World, for the Oxford Bibliographies Online, and has collaborated with the BBC World Service. He has also written several op-eds and articles that have appeared in major media outlets, such as the Chicago Tribune, Salon, the Wisconsin State Journal, Government Executive, Defense One, and the Conversation. He lives in Chapel Hill, NC.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 7 Ed Notes, WC

Tracking Native American Cultural Heritage on Maryland’s Upper Eastern Shore

January 8, 2024 by Washington College News Service

Dr. Julie Markin, associate professor of anthropology and archaeology and director of archaeology at Washington College, was recently awarded a $40,000 grant through the Maryland Historical Trust to study the indigenous cultural heritage of Maryland’s Upper Eastern Shore and its inhabitants’ social landscapes prior to contact with European settlers and explorers. The grant will provide for an archaeological survey and excavation of the watershed, conducted by the Washington College Archaeology Lab, as well as paid internships for students, public programming and presentations, and open lab opportunities which will be open to volunteers from the public at large.

Dr. Julie Markin

Dr. Markin’s project unites archaeological data with geographic information, environmental reconstruction and historical accounts, with the goal of developing a more robust database from which to ask questions about the nature and complexity of civilizations on the Chesapeake Bay’s Eastern Shore, an area that has historically received less study and attention than its counterpart chiefdoms across the Bay.

“The research proposed by Dr. Markin will help fill a critical gap in our knowledge about pre-contact indigenous history on Maryland’s Eastern Shore,” said Maryland Historical Trust Chief Archeaologist Dr. Matthew McKnight, who notes that most of the archaeological work in the state requires consideration of cultural resources and archaeological sites in project planning.
“In areas like the Upper Choptank watershed that have seen less development, our understanding of prehistory is much more limited than places where more publicly funded construction is taking place. We are happy to have assistance from Washington College in documenting the important resources of the region for the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties,” said McKnight.
Dr. Markin views archaeology as a means by which we can ask, and attempt to answer, when and why inequalities arise. She notes that even though the Eastern Shore received limited attention from early English settlers, mid-17th-century accounts describe Eastern Shore groups living in chiefdoms headed by hereditary leaders receiving tribute from subordinate groups. Traditional markers of complex chiefdoms – structures with status indicators and maize agriculture – are absent however, suggesting that Eastern Shore complexity has a different flavor.
“In terms of historical records, we don’t know much of what the social and economic landscape looked like before John Smith made his way to the Chesapeake and modern-day Maryland,” noted Markin. “Extensive archaeological investigation can help construct a better social geography of the Late Woodland/Contact period in the Upper Choptank.”
Six paid internships will be made available and employ students as field crew members, lab assistants, and research assistants, allowing them to gain valuable professional experience, something near and dear to Markin’s heart.
“I am very focused on applied anthropology and archaeology – giving students hands-on opportunities that contribute to the communities we engage with and that foster research that can be employed to create spaces for conversation and the development of thoughtful policies around the lands that are important to many different stakeholders, particularly descendant Indigenous groups,” says Markin.
In addition to the excavations and fieldwork, Dr. Markin has plans to develop public programming that will engage students and community volunteers in open lab sessions throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. Volunteers from the community and other regional schools will also be invited to participate in archaeological investigations conducted over the next two summers and fieldwork conducted throughout the academic year.
The grant will also allow for the development of public presentations and talks to community organizations about the project and its findings as well as an exhibit at the Caroline County Historical Society building in Denton, Maryland, which would bring together project interns, the Caroline County Historical Society, and Washington College students minoring in museum, field, and community education.
“The research grant to Professor Markin is not only a testament to her stature as a scholar but also to the innovativeness of her approach to addressing important knowledge gaps,” said Washington College Provost and Dean Kiho Kim. “Moreover, with the grant, she will be able to provide students with opportunities to work on real-world problems and contribute to a better understanding of the history of this region. Such opportunities are transformative for our students. I thank Professor Markin for her dedication to her scholarly pursuits and our students.”
Those wishing to follow along with the research and find out how to participate as a volunteer are encouraged to follow the Washington College Department of Anthropology webpage and Instagram account at @wacanthropology for blogs, short videos, and updates from the field.
The Department of Anthropology & Archaeology at Washington College allows students to directly engage with contemporary anthropological topics and applied research through an individualized program that sets them up for success. Celebrating the diversity of cultural experiences and pathways students at Washington College “learn by doing” and are offered numerous opportunities for fieldwork, paid internships, and experiential learning. Learn more at www.washcoll.edu.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Education, WC

Donika: A Washington College Senior’s Entrepreneurial Odyssey into Olive Oil

December 20, 2023 by Val Cavalheri

Remember what you were doing when you were 21? Maybe just finishing school and looking for a job or furthering your education. Or maybe you were already working and anticipating weekends and holidays for well-deserved breaks.

Now, meet Bianti Danaj, a business major at Washington College, former captain of the men’s swim team, and about to graduate next year. Unlike most of his peers, he’s not following the typical post-graduation paths. Instead, he’s building and running an unconventional venture–importing olive oil. And no, it isn’t a family legacy. It’s something he independently decided to pursue. 

Although a U.S. native, Danaj’s first 14 years were spent in Albania when his parents returned to their homeland. After coming back to the U.S., he felt the absence of the fresh, organic foods he had grown accustomed to. “Because Albania had been a dictatorship before 1991, we didn’t have any industries that polluted the land,” he said. “And with it being located in the middle of the Mediterranean, the weather favors a lot of agriculture, and it was organic foods I mostly missed.”

So it makes sense that the catalyst for his business idea began when, visiting Albania with his college swim team coach, they stopped at an olive oil factory. The coach was impressed by the local produce. Danaj wondered, “If an American sees the value in a product I really loved, maybe others would as well.” The possibility was intriguing, and his research began. It ended just as abruptly when he realized that launching a production and export business would require millions in capital – far more than a 19-year-old college student could drum up. 

The idea might have died there without some fateful inspiration from Danaj’s entrepreneurship class. On the first day, his professor, Dr. Joe Bauer, challenged his class to conceptualize their ultimate dream business as if money and other resources were no object. “That got me thinking,” Danaj said. “Instead of buying land and a factory and taking on the production process, why not instead partner with an Albania organic farmer and sell directly from farm to table?”  

Combining his business inspiration with academia, Danaj sought the help of former professor Thomas Tracy, asking him to act as his capstone advisor. The capstone typically serves as the pinnacle for students to demonstrate their command of a subject before graduation. But this turned out to be quite a different experience for Tracy. “We’ve had capstones that students have done on a theoretical level–creating a business, writing up the kind of packaging the product will have, etc. Once they’ve graduated, we’ve seen people who’ve created a successful business. We’ve never had it happen simultaneously while they were finishing school.”

With this type of assistance, Danaj started navigating the business development process step by step. He discovered that the most challenging part was the decision-making process, and securing funds was the easiest.  Through a combination of loans and family support, he pooled together enough funding to pursue his vision.

But the pursuit of a dream has also forced Danaj to make tough choices. He stopped swimming competitively to have more time to devote to his business. “That’s not something most people would want to do at his age,” said Tracy. “But he did, and this brings together his passion points. He loves Albania and the idea of helping people from this country, and he loves the U.S. and is committed to the organic space. His company allows him to combine all his hot buttons into one cool passion project. “

Danaj named his company “Donika” after a beloved Albanian noblewoman whose marriage helped unite the country centuries ago. The marriage also created a rule, according to Albanian history, that any couple that got married after them had to plant ten new olive trees. Nowadays, Albania is home to more than 12 million trees, of which the Kalinjot variety is one such olive that is used in the oil being pressed and sold under the Donika name.

That’s important to Danaj. These ancient Kalinjot olive trees are allowed to grow wild in the relatively untouched hills of Skrofotina, Trevllazër, and Cerkovina in the city of Vlora. Due to political and ethnic conflict in recent decades, which kept Albania isolated from global trade, these exceptional olives have remained largely unknown outside the country. 

Until now. 

According to the International Olive Council, Albanian olive oil exports quadrupled in the first quarter of 2023, making Danaj’s olive oil business perfectly timed for success. 

Beyond the ancient trees, what else distinguishes Donika’s extra virgin olive oil from others? For one, you won’t find machinery collecting the fruits from the trees. The annual harvest, which started in late October, spans several weeks, and the green olives are hand-picked, funneled, and cold-extracted every few hours through mid-November. As they proudly declare: from tree to production in three hours. 

Of course, this means that each year’s harvest produces a limited and exclusive number of bottles. This year, the total is estimated to be around 3,000. Each order consists of three bottles. The oil is poured and vacuum sealed, a label is added, they are put into a classy box, and then shipped directly to the consumer within days (unlike major producers, which can take 4-6 months to reach U.S. grocery store shelves). “It’s basically the same concept as wine – olive oil is freshest and most flavorful soon after production,” Danaj said. 

The swift shipping also preserves the oil’s aromatic compounds and nutritional integrity, as this variety is particularly rich in polyphenol, a potent anti-oxidant associated with lowered inflammation and other positive health markers, which also gives the oil its longevity and the characteristic peppery finish indicative of that freshness and potency. “One way to determine which olive oil is healthiest is by looking at the polyphenol column,” said Danaj. “We have 700 polyphenols, which puts us in the 99th percentile. That’s important.”

Considering the magnitude of this endeavor, especially for a college senior, Danaj acknowledges it wouldn’t be possible without encouragement and support. His girlfriend, Grace Kelley, is at the forefront, complementing and sharing the passion and vision for Donika. Kelley, a Washington College environmental science major, handles marketing and branding responsibilities for Donika, ranging from logo and label design to website copy. “Since English is my second language,” said Danaj, “I tell Grace what I want to communicate, and she helps translate it and make it sound better.” He’s also quick to point out that what began as support has become a partnership. The duo works together to set up and hold tasting events.

These tastings play a pivotal role in spreading the word about Donika’s exclusive olive oil, especially among the discerning foodie audiences who can best appreciate the distinctive qualities of a product that hasn’t been manipulated through various processes. They recently showcased at a college alumni happy hour at Out of the Fire.

But Danaj and Kelley are gearing up for an even grander stage—the exclusive 2024 Fancy Food Show trade exhibition in Las Vegas. Their sights are set on establishing connections with major specialty retailers like Whole Foods. In the meantime, the Donika website serves as a platform for direct-to-consumer sales.

However, transcending these current endeavors is Danaj’s expansive vision. Donika, to him, is just the beginning of a series of projects. His intention is to achieve personal success and create a positive impact, particularly for Albanian individuals who haven’t had the same advantages he has been fortunate to experience.

We wonder what lies ahead for this innovative young entrepreneur, but one thing is certain–we’re willing to bet it will be remarkable.

For more information and to order, go to: donikaoliveoil.com

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: WC, 1 Homepage Slider, Spy Chats

Washington College To Offer Scholarships To Eastern Shore Students Seeking A Career In Teaching

December 6, 2023 by Dave Wheelan

Washington College, in partnership with Kent County High School and Queen Anne’s County public high schools, is pleased to announce six new scholarships aimed at encouraging more Eastern Shore students to pursue a career in education. The College will award scholarships to cover full tuition, fees, room, and board, to three students in each of those counties annually. The scholarships, which have an educational value of over $280,000 for four years per student awarded, will be available beginning this fall.
With a nationwide teacher shortage effecting our schools, leaders in the Washington College Department of Education saw an opportunity to capitalize on existing endowment and state-provided funds to increase the number of education majors at the College while strengthening existing relationships with both Kent County and Queen Anne’s County public school districts, where many Washington students conduct their student-teaching. Washington College education graduates have gone on to have successful careers, with 100 percent of graduates since 2018 obtaining full-time employment in the field.
“Made possible by the recent $54.7 million gift from the Hodson Trust to Washington College, as well as state funds provided by Teaching Fellows for Maryland, and the policies set forth by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the College is excited to provide this opportunity to students in our immediate community,” said Johnnie Johnson, vice president for enrollment management. “The call to teach is an admirable one, and close to the heart of our mission as a liberal arts college. We are happy to remove economic barriers and enable access to a great education while providing a path to a career in teaching to our local students who heed that call.”
With ample opportunities to gain experience and see the impact of skilled teachers in K-12 classrooms throughout their studies, students enrolled with Washington College’s Department of Education are immersed in a highly nurturing and personalized environment which promises intellectual rigor within a classic liberal arts experience. Students may choose an interdisciplinary major in human development or select one of the program’s two minors in either education or museum, field, and community education studies. Two teacher certification programs are also available. Notably, the Environmental Science teaching certificate is not offered at any other college in Maryland.
“Our students have had such positive experiences working as student teachers in Kent and Queen Anne’s County classrooms,” said Washington College Department of Education Chair Sara Clarke-De Reza. “Working in the regional school systems has also given us great insight into the need to train and retain good teachers throughout our community and to better highlight the career paths open to graduates with an education degree or minor. It made sense to find a way to utilize the many financial resources currently available to encourage more local high schoolers to pursue a career in the field.”
Because of its location, Washington College offers students the opportunity to experience a wide range of informal learning environments and consider what each has to offer to their understanding of what it means to teach and learn in places other than school. Clarke-De Reza is also the Director of the Museum, Field and Community Education Program, which actively engages students throughout the Eastern Shore with environment, history, and arts organizations that provide opportunities to see how small organizations undertake the work of educating the public. The College also has access to large-scale museum, field, and community learning experiences at nationally regarded locations in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other regional cities, giving its students access to top tier internships and field work opportunities.
To apply for the TEACH Maryland scholarship at Washington College, students must be in their senior year of high school (or have equivalent status) at a public school in Kent or Queen Anne’s County, be on the path to satisfying the requirements for graduation and earning a diploma, and have achieved an overall grade point average of 3.3 at the time of application. As the scholarship is offered in conjunction with the Teaching Fellows for Maryland program, applicants must agree to work as a public school or public prekindergarten teacher at schools in the State where at least 50 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals upon completion of their studies for at least four years. Interested students should contact their college counselors at their respective high schools or reach out to the Washington College Office of Admissions at [email protected].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Ed Homepage, Ed Portal Lead, WC

Washington College Receives $54.7 Million from Hodson Trust

October 12, 2023 by Spy Desk

Washington College announced the largest gift in the College’s 240-year history: a $54.7 million gift from The Hodson Trust to provide financial support for students. The Hodson gift will grow the College’s scholarship endowment to approximately $170 million and its overall endowment to $325 million, strengthening the College’s ability to make a college education more affordable to students from all backgrounds.  

“This generous gift from The Hodson Trust is truly transformative for Washington College,” said President Mike Sosulski. “Access to an outstanding educational experience is a pressing issue for many families today. The Trust’s support of our students’ financial needs expands our ability to ensure access to a wide range of potential students, particularly those who are first-generation or come from underserved communities.” 

As a result of the Hodson gift, Washington College will guarantee a minimum scholarship of $30,000 per year ($120,000 over 4 years) to any incoming student with at least a 3.3 grade point average who applies by December 1. Students may qualify for more aid based on their academic performance. The Hodson Trust Washington Scholars endowment, which provides full tuition, fees and the cost of room and board for students with significant financial need, will also benefit from this gift.     

“We are excited to be able to offer this scholarship opportunity to deserving students,” said Vice President for Enrollment Johnnie Johnson. “It will allow us to continue to grow the diversity of our campus community and enhance the intellectual environment of the College. These scholarship funds will help us recruit more of the best and brightest students to Washington College from Maryland, the mid-Atlantic region, and beyond.”  

Support for financial aid opens new opportunities for students and their families who think an education at a private college is out of reach. Because private colleges like Washington provide significant student financial aid when compared to public universities, the cost of a private education becomes more affordable. For the current academic year, Washington College provided $40.6 million in total financial aid with the average student aid totaling $45,745, compared to the University of Maryland, whose published average student aid is $9,074. 

The gift is part of the dissolution of The Hodson Trust. Established in 1920 by Colonel Clarence Hodson, the Trust has been a longtime supporter of Washington College and its largest benefactor, having now donated more than $150 million to the College since 1935.  

For almost 90 years, The Hodson Trust has contributed to Washington College in a number of ways, including establishing or contributing to endowments that support student scholarships; undergraduate research and internship stipends; faculty chairs, salary enhancement, and professional development funds; and the College’s signature academic centers. In addition, The Hodson Trust contributed to the construction of Hodson Hall, Hodson Boathouse, the John Toll Science Center, and the Lelia Hynson Boating Park.   

The Hodson family has a long and illustrious legacy at Washington College. Colonel Hodson, his daughter, Lelia Hodson Hynson, and granddaughter, Sally Hynson Hopkins, served on the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors.   

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: WC, 2 News Homepage, News Portal Highlights

Mt. Cuba Center Provides $1.5 million to WC for Land at Round Top Creek Lane

September 28, 2023 by Washington College News Service

Property Acquisition

Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin, Delaware, recently provided $1.5 million in funding to Washington College for the purchase of two parcels of land at Round Top Creek Lane in Chestertown, Maryland, as a critical addition to its River & Field Campus (RAFC) in Queen Anne’s County. The purchase, which comprises 29 acres, was made possible by an additional $100,000 gift from a Washington College trustee. The purchase will conserve Chester River coastline, mature native trees, and freshwater wetland species. It also provides Washington College with access to an existing pier and boathouse for educational and research opportunities at RAFC.

The College’s RAFC encompasses nearly 5,000 acres of diverse ecological communities just minutes from its main campus in Chestertown, including 2.5 miles of Chester River shoreline, a 90-acre freshwater lake, multiple streams and seasonal wetlands, 1,200 acres of forest, 3,000 acres of agricultural fields, and 228 acres of restored native prairie with natural grasses that have allowed northern bobwhite quail to flourish. The property also features 50 acres of managed, successional habitat for one of the most active bird-banding stations on the East Coast, handling approximately 14,000 birds a year.

“This asset will greatly enhance the ability of Washington College’s Center for Environment & Society to undertake estuarine studies and water quality monitoring on the Upper Chester River,” said Washington College President Mike Sosulski. “As a part of a perpetual conservation easement, this land provides additional habitat to our Natural Lands Project.”

The Natural Lands Project is a partnership of Washington College with several regional conservation organizations and Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources that works to make the rural landscape of the Eastern Shore more wildlife friendly. The initiative helps to improve water quality within local watersheds by creating a healthy balance of production farming and wildlife habitat throughout the agricultural landscape. This fall the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology began offering a field ethnobotany course, which will identify native plants of cultural relevance to the new property as well as other habitats of interest at RAFC.

Mt. Cuba Center, a nonprofit botanic garden, is committed to protecting habitats and ecosystems throughout the region. To that end, Mt. Cuba provides funding for open space conservation projects within 100 miles of the 1,094 acres of gardens and natural lands that it cultivates in Hockessin, Delaware.

“Ensuring that open space and the ecologically important habitats, native plants, and wildlife they contain is preserved for future generations is key to Mt. Cuba’s mission,” said Ann Rose, Mt. Cuba Center’s president.  “Washington College’s commitment to environmental science and ecological stewardship make it a valued partner in conservation.”

Mt. Cuba’s history with the RAFC property dates back to 2018, when it granted $1.9 million to Washington College to purchase 16 residential parcels, totaling just over 120 acres, on the Chino Farms. The parcels, also a part of a perpetual conservation easement, were merged into the larger land area now known as RAFC.

“The River and Field Campus wraps farming, wildlife preserves, natural and restored habitats, and research facilities into a single property,” said Valerie Imbruce, director of the Center for Environment & Society. “It propels Washington College into the front ranks of schools at the cutting edge of environmental studies, giving it a distinct educational advantage.”

“The River and Field Campus is a resource of national significance,” added Sosulski. “This acquisition will ensure that RAFC remains uncompromised by incompatible development and that it can attain its full capacity as a national model for large landscape conservation and environmental teaching and research.”

More information on RAFC is available at https://www.washcoll.edu/learn-by-doing/rafc/index.php.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 7 Ed Notes, WC

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