The 2012 Gladys Black Scholarship was recently awarded to Knoxville High School senior Nicholas Worthington of Knoxville, Iowa.

The annually awarded scholarship is given by INHF in memory of Gladys Black, a Marion County conservationist and dedicated bird watcher. The foundation awards the scholarship to a graduating senior who lives or attends high school in Marion County and plans to study conservation.

Worthington plans to attend Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny where he will study water environmental technology. he is passionate about preserving and protecting Iowa's natural resources and thought water conservationn would be a unique career.

His extracurricular activities include his school's varsity bowling team and community service programs.

"Nick has a passion for the environment so I think it's very fitting for him to enter the water environmental technology field," said Brent Hanna, who is an agricultural science instructor at Knoxville High School. "He is a worthy candidate that Gladys Black would be proud of."

Worthington was recommended for the award by a high school faculty member and a previous employer.

"With his handyman mechanical skills and his desire to succeed, Nick is headed for a bright future beyond high school," said Knoxville High School math instructor Mary Keefer in a letter recommending Worthington for the award.

INHF has been presenting the Gladys Black award in conjunction with the Red Rock Environmental Education Fund since 2005.