Future Tusculum College students interested in majoring in environmental education may have the opportunity to do so thanks to a scholarship recently established in honor of a leader in environmental education in Northeast Tennessee.

Late in October, it was announed that the Greeneville Junior Woman's Club is establishing an environmental education scholarship in honor of Dough Ratledge, long-time director of the Cedar Creek Lerning Center in Greene County.

Ratledge, who retired in early October, served as director for 24 of the center, which is a residential environmental education program for students in grades K-12. Tusculum environmental education students have also had opportunities to further their studies at the center as well, including internships as teachers in the program.

The new scholarship was announced during a ceremony to honor Ratledge, and the Junior Woman's Club is accepting contributions through March 31, 2004 in an effort to establish a $10,000 endowment for the scholarship. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the scholarship fund is asked to send a check to The Greeneville Junior Woman's Club at P.O. Box 1116, Greeneville, TN 37744.

The effort is well under way as a $5,000 check for the scholarship fund was presented during the ceremony. The funds are from Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger on behalf of the Niswonger Foundation, which he established. Receiving the check on behalf of the college was Dan Barnett, associate professor of chemistry who teaches environmental science classes. The Foundation, which Niswonger established, has made major contributions in recent years to a number of local and regional education-related projects.

After the check presentation, Ratledge said he was honored by the scholarship and appreciated all the support from the community centerthe learning center had received over the years.

Designed to enhance the science curriculum for school children, the Cedar Creek Learning Center is sponsored by the 15 school systems that make up the Upper East Tennessee Education Cooperative. The center, which can accommodate up to 60 students at a time, features four dormitories, a cafeteria, a full-size gymnasium and an indoor classroom. It offers short-day programs, long-day programs, a multi-day program, and a summer program with students choosing between forest ecology and aquatic ecology during the one-day programs with the longer programs including courses in both subjects.

Greeneville Sun staff writer Bill Jones contributed to this article