Ellery Pierce Awarded 2025 NatureTrack Nancy Stearns Scholarship

The NatureTrack Foundation is proud to announce Ellery Pierce as the recipient of the 2025 NatureTrack Nancy Stearns Scholarship, awarded annually to a local north Santa Barbara Couty high school student pursuing studies in the natural sciences.

A graduating senior from Orcutt, Ellery has been accepted to several respected universities and has confirmed her enrollment at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she plans to major in zoology. Her long-term goal is to work in biology education, research, or science communication—careers that will allow her to share her passion for nature with others.

Ellery’s academic achievements include advanced coursework in biology, geology, AP Biology, and oceanography. She has demonstrated a deep commitment to science education through her internship at Joe Nightingale Elementary School, where she supports science instruction and encourages young students to connect with the natural world. Her leadership also includes serving as a cabin leader during an outdoor school program and as vice president of F.I.N.D. (Families Inspiring Neurodiverse Development).

“Ellery embodies the spirit of this scholarship,” said Dennis Nord, NatureTrack board member, docent, and scholarship committee chairman. “She’s not only passionate about the natural world, but she’s also committed to sharing that passion with others—particularly through teaching and hands-on learning. She represents exactly the kind of future leader we hope to support.”

The NatureTrack Nancy Stearns Scholarship is named in honor of Nancy Stearns, a beloved NatureTrack docent who generously gave her time and heart to connecting students with nature. The scholarship is funded by her husband, Brett Stearns, and will continue to be supported in perpetuity in her memory. It is awarded to a graduating senior who demonstrates exceptional promise in the natural sciences and a commitment to NatureTrack’s mission.

About NatureTrack Foundation:
Founded in 2011, the NatureTrack Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Santa Barbara County that provides free outdoor field trips for K–12 students and makes nature accessible to people with mobility disabilities through the use of Freedom Trax devices. Since its founding, NatureTrack has served tens of thousands of students and hundreds of individuals with mobility challenges, helping foster meaningful connections with the natural world..

NatureTrack also presents the NatureTrack Film Festival, a program designed to connect people to the natural world through the power of film. The festival features compelling stories that celebrate nature’s beauty, complexity, and resilience, encouraging audiences to become thoughtful stewards of the environment.

Volunteers are welcome year-round to support NatureTrack’s programs as docents, trail assistants, and advocates for nature education and conservation.

 For more information or to get involved, visit www.naturetrack.org.