Our 2025 Jerry Liguori Raptor Conservation and Education Scholarship awardees put their funding to work, educating others about the importance of raptors and how we can protect them. Diane, Robyn, and Yumai have all focused on providing accessible raptor education to their local communities, continuing Jerry’s passion for teaching others about these beloved birds. Keep reading to learn more about our awardees’ programs and all that they have accomplished.
Diane Johnson, RVT, Operation WildLife Inc
Closing the nature gap—the gaps between people and the environment—is something we’re passionate about at HawkWatch International. But as a small team, there are only so many learners we can reach each year. That’s why we were thrilled to support Diane Johnson and her team at Operation WildLife in closing the nature gap by providing free programs with Raptor Ambassadors to Title I schools in Kansas.
Diane has identified the Title I schools she intends to visit with free programming and piloted the programs six times to work out any remaining kinks. They have seen a strong reception from the programs and plan to deliver 75 more in the 2026-2027 school year.
Dr. Robyn D. Miller, Auburn University Raptor Center
If you’ve ever found yourself with an injured raptor trying to find someone to care for it, you know that there are very few people qualified for the task. Veterinarians are often provided with limited training in exotic animals, especially birds. Dr. Miller, the Director of the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC), saw a way she could fill this knowledge gap with her expertise. Using support from the scholarship, Dr. Miller and her team developed a new curriculum that integrates hands-on clinical training with specialized instructional materials in raptor medicine and surgery. Funds supported the purchase of supplies, such as replica skeletons and wings, as well as surgical supplies.
The team at AURC successfully delivered four Raptor Medicine Training Labs, two last fall and two this spring. These sessions provided veterinarians and wildlife professionals with practical, skills-based instruction in raptor triage, orthopedic assessment, and fracture repair techniques. Going forward, these veterinarians and rehabbers will be more prepared to treat their future raptor patients!
Yumei Cabrera Carrasco, Pronatura Veracruz
Oftentimes, bringing nature to learners in schools or community spaces is the best way to make science education accessible. But when you have an education center like Pronatura Veracruz’s Dr. Mario Ramos Bird Observatory, you get to take the learning one step further—bringing kids outside! With support from the scholarship, Yumei has invested in Pronatura Veracruz’s Dr. Mario Ramos Bird Observatory education center in Chichicaxtle, covering staff travel to the observatory and program supply costs to reach more people with raptor education.
Pronatura Veracruz conducted 19 environmental workshops, cultural activities, and guided tours from the center, connecting local communities with nature and raptor migration. The workshops reached 55 children from Chichicaxtle! They also continued their afternoon workshop program for local children, providing regular opportunities to foster passion and interest in conservation careers. Finally, funding also supported their annual Veracruz River of Raptors Bird Festival, a migration festival that reached 333 learners from both local and international audiences.Â
If you are part of a project focused on raptor migration or education, consider applying to the scholarship! We are accepting applications for our 2026 awardees through May 9th. Click here to learn more and apply: https://hawkwatch.org/investing-in-others/jerryscholarship/
This blog was written by Sammy Riccio, our Communications Manager, with the help of our 2025 awardees. You can learn more about Sammy here.
