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Les Whitt Memorial Scholarship
The Les Whitt Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the memory of Robert Leslie “Les” Whitt, former director of the Alexandria Zoological Park in Alexandria, Louisiana. The Award, which promotes advanced training in animal husbandry and behavioral enrichment, provides full scholarship funding to participate in either of the following Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ (AZA) professional training program courses: Animal Training Applications in Zoo and Aquarium Settings or Best Practices in Animal Keeping.
The Friends of the Alexandria Zoo (FOTAZ) provides annual funding for this scholarship award.
REQUIREMENTS
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Applicants must be employees or associates of Latin American zoological institutions or related facilities. For this scholarship, preference is given to keepers or curatorial staff.
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Applicants must possess a functional proficiency in English.
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Individuals may submit only one scholarship application per year.
HOW TO APPLY
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E-mail a copy of your completed application to scholarships@zcog.org
Please include a copy of your curriculum vitae (CV) -
Send questions to scholarships@zcog.org
 Daniela MoralesBiologist at Vesty Pakos Zoo (Bolivia) will attend AZA's Best Practices in Animal Keeping course in 2019. |
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 Mario SotoVeterinarian at Zoofari (Mexico). Attended AZA’s Animal Training Applications in Zoo and Aquarium Settings in 2017. |
 Miryam Sainz TenorioBird Trainer at Africam Safari (Mexico). Attended AZA's Animal Training Applications in Zoo and Aquarium Settings course in 2016. |
 Corina ZerpaVeterinarian at the Jardin Zoológico de Mendoza (Argentina). Attended AZA's Managing Animal Enrichment and Training Programs in 2016. |
 Florencia PresaCurator of Enrichment at the Fundación Temaikèn (Argentina). Attended AZA's Managing Animal Enrichment and Training Programs course in 2015. |
 Ana Paula ArevaloAnimal Welfare Specialist at the Dr. Rodolfo Talice Fauna and Flora Reserve (Uruguay). Attended AZA's Animal Training Applications in Zoo and Aquarium Settings course in 2014. |
 Ornella Bayona HerazoAnimal Enrichment Specialist at Zoológico de Barranquilla (Colombia). Attended AZA's Animal Training Applications in Zoo and Aquarium Settings course in 2013. |
 Danilo TashimaBiologist at the Zoológico de São Paulo (Brazil). Attended AZA's Animal Training Applications in Zoo and Aquarium Settings course in 2012. |
 Miguel VieyraBiologist at Zoológico de San Juan de Aragon (Mexico). Attended AZA's Conservation Education: Effective Program Design course in 2011. |
 Javier Ignacio Collin VidalAnimal Keeper at the Zoológico Nacional de Santiago (Chile). Attended AZA's Advances in Animal Keeping course in 2010. |
 Marcela Tirado SepúlvedaBiologist at the Zoológico Nacional de Santiago (Chile). Attended AZA's Amphibian Biology and Management course in 2009. |
Robert Leslie 'Les' Whitt, former Director of Alexandria Zoological Park and founding Board member of Zoo Conservation Outreach Group.
PAST RECIPIENTS
YEAR
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2021
2022
NAME
Marcela Tirado Sepúlveda
Javier Ignacio Collin Vidal
Miguel Vieyra
Danilo Tashima
Ornella Bayona Herazo
Ana Paula Arevalo
Florencia Presa
Corina Zerpa
Miryam Sainz
Mario Soto
Daniela Morales
Carlos Pumarino
Álvaro Arroyave
Julieta Jañez
INSTITUTION
Zoológico Nacional de Chile (Chile)
Zoológico Nacional de Chile (Chile)
Zoológico de San Juan de Aragon (Mexico)
Zoológico de São Paulo (Brazil)
Zoológico de Barranquilla (Colombia)
Dr. Rodolfo Talice Fauna and Flora Reserve (Uruguay)
Fundación Temaikèn (Argentina)
Mendoza Zoo (Argentina)
Africam Safari (Mexico)
Zoofari (Mexico)
Vesty Pakos Zoo (Bolivia)
Parque Ecológico Sacando (Mexico)
Fundación Temaikèn (Argentina)
Cali Zoo (Colombia)
SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR:
WAYS YOU CAN ACT
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Contact ZCOG for details on how your institution can establish an annual conservation scholarship award
