Hostos is thrilled to announce that student Christian Liriano has earned a
2018 Barnabas McHenry Hudson Valley Awardsfrom the Open Space Institute. The awards honor exceptional young leaders who are working to protect and enhance the Hudson River Valley. The four recipients, who represent communities throughout the Hudson Valley, will work this summer with prominent community nonprofits.
Liriano, an aspiring taxonomist from the Bronx, will work with Friends of Van Cortland Park to conduct an ecological assessment of six acres of forest bordering Tibbett's Brook within Van Cortlandt Park in the northwest region of the Bronx. Christian will conduct a pre-assessment of the flora and fauna in the forest, remove invasive plants, and create a biodiversity database to help park scientists better understand the biodiversity of disturbed lands. The final result will be a management plan that establishes invasive species removal protocols and the creation of a partnership with the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park to actively remove invasive vegetation.
OSI established the McHenry Awards in 2007 to honor the extensive contributions of its Trustee Barnabas McHenry, a renowned environmental philanthropist and conservationist. Funded by an endowment raised by OSI, the awards go to graduate and undergraduate students pursuing research, leadership, and community involvement in the Hudson Valley.
“The winners of OSI’s McHenry Award represent the bright future of the Hudson Valley. Each year we are delighted by the applicants, their project ideas, and their passion to improve their communities,” said Kim Elliman, OSI’s president and CEO. “Through educational, conservation, and cultural projects, these young leaders are adding to Barney McHenry’s amazing legacy of dedication to the Hudson Valley.”
Every year, OSI makes awards of up to $5,000 to each graduate or undergraduate student to partner with regional nonprofits in the fields of environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts, and tourism, with $1,000 going to the partnering institution. Currently, OSI is fundraising to add a fifth category, healthy communities, to the award categories in order to directly engage and respond to the interests of student leaders.
Since 2007, OSI has committed nearly $247,000 to 46 McHenry Award grantees working in support of the Hudson Valley.