Although he held many roles at HawkWatch International, Jerry Liguori is perhaps best known for his role as an Educator, sharing his love for raptors through informative blogs and programs with our Raptor Ambassadors. This year, the Jerry Liguori Raptor Conservation and Education Scholarship committee leaned into Jerry’s passion for environmental education. All three of our winners are creating or expanding programs that encourage others to care about conservation, support the care of injured birds, and provide professional development for the next generation.Â
Diane Johnson, RVT, Operation WildLife Inc
Diane founded Operation WildLife (OWL) in 1989 after working at an exotic/mixed veterinary practice. Her passion led her to raptor education, where she has worked with over 21 different raptor species. Diane delivered programs throughout Kansas and Missouri for the Bald and Golden Eagle reintroduction programs, American Kestrel habitat advancement, Peregrine Falcon restoration program, and more.
Her organization, OWL, provides both wildlife rehabilitation services and education programs that reach over 40,000 individuals each year. With support from the scholarship, OWL will be able to expand their programming into Title 1 schools, providing up-close experiences with their live bird of prey ambassadors free of charge. The programs will focus on environmental education concepts such as co-existence, conservation efforts, and preserving ecosystems.
Dr. Robyn D. Miller, Auburn University Raptor Center
Dr. Miller brings over a decade of experience in raptor training, rehabilitation, and education to her role as Director of the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC). Her journey with raptors began at the university, where she volunteered in both the rehabilitation and education departments of AURC while earning her PhD in Literature. A licensed falconer and naturalist, Dr. Miller is passionate about building meaningful connections between people and wildlife. She also serves on the board of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators, where she contributes to advancing best practices in avian care and education.
The AURC serves as both a raptor rehabilitation center and a hub of learning for veterinary students and the broader community. The center provides training and opportunities to get directly involved with the birds’ care. With the scholarship’s support, the AURC will develop a new curriculum integrating hands-on clinical training with specialized instructional materials in raptor medicine and surgery. These resources will enhance the center’s ability to train veterinary students and private practice veterinarians in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of raptors, preparing them to become leaders in the advancement of raptor medicine and conservation.
Yumei Cabrera Carrasco, Pronatura Veracruz
Yumei Cabrera Carrasco began her career working in environmental education in 1994 when she opened the Environmental Education Center in Acuexcomatl, Xochimilco. That same year, she joined the staff of Pronatura Veracruz, leading the organization’s education program for their migration site, the River of Raptors. Shortly after, she was accepted into the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association Environmental Education program, where she developed and implemented activities on raptor migration and conservation. She brought back what she learned at Hawk Mountain to Pronatura Veracruz, where she continues to share the importance of wildlife conservation through school programs, community events, and collaborations with like-minded organizations.
With funding from the scholarship, Yumei is looking to invest in Pronatura Veracruz’s Dr. Mario Ramos Bird Observatory education center in Chichicaxtle. She plans to purchase new materials to host evening educational workshops on the raptor migration and trainings to prepare the local youth for future careers in conservation. Yumei hopes to introduce the next generation to careers as interpretive guides, as the area is currently struggling with a lack of employment opportunities.
We can’t wait to see how Diane, Dr. Miller, and Yumei carry on Jerry’s legacy of environmental education across North America! If you or someone you know is interested in following in theirs and Jerry’s footsteps, we hope you’ll consider applying for the Jerry Liguori Scholarship next spring. At least three recipients are chosen each year, and priority is given to individuals and organizations with less access to funding.Â
This blog was written by Sammy Riccio, HWI’s Communications Manager. You can learn more about Sammy here.
