Thomas Pratte Memorial Scholarship

Awarded through Surfrider Foundation USA, this $10,000 scholarship was created in honor of the late Thomas Pratte, who dedicated his life to advocating the preservation of our oceans, waves and beaches.

"Tom Pratte was a co-founder of the Surfrider Foundation and surfing's first full-time environmental advocate," said Kira Stillwell, Chapter activist and Chair of the Program Committee of the Board of Directors. "He dedicated his life to the study and preservation of waves and beaches. It is a reflection of the growth and health of our Foundation, and our unwavering commitment to supporting our membership, that we are now expanding our level of assistance to those who are following in the path that Tom has blazed."

The Surfrider Foundation Thomas Pratte Memorial Scholarship program, established in 1994, previously awarded scholarship grants of $2,000 to selected applicants at California's Humboldt State University, Pratte's alma mater. Pratte graduated from Humboldt State in 1982 with a degree in Natural Resource Planning & Interpretation. Along with surfer/activist Glenn Henning, he founded the Surfrider Foundation in 1984 to confront dredging and discharge practices that were destroying Malibu's famous point break wave. From 1985-1989, he served as the Foundation's first Executive Director and paid employee and received a Coastal and Ocean Management Award for his landmark work in organizing the surfing community as an effective public interest group. His environmental victories were many, including his pivotal role in a legal precedent setting settlement with Chevron Oil Company in El Segundo, California that represents the first time a government agency, department or office at any government level, has recognized the significance of a breaking wave as a natural resource deserving of protection. Pratte died on April 7, 1994 after a short battle with cancer.

Awards may be made at the undergraduate, Masters and Ph.D. levels, and are now available to qualified applicants pursuing studies in a wide range of fields deemed compatible and consistent with the Surfrider Foundation's Mission Statement and Guiding Principles.

To be eligible, you must be a member in good standing of the Surfrider Foundation with a satisfactory aggregate GPA and clearly demonstrated interest in coastal environmental science and issues relevant to the Surfrider Foundation Mission. Both full and part time students are welcome to apply. Applications and instructions may be downloaded at http://www.surfrider.org/whatwedo4a.asp.