USNA Midshipman Selected as Clinton Global Initiative Scholar

U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman 3rd Class Megan Rosenberger, 20, of Pittsburgh, was selected as a 2015 Clinton Global Initiative University Scholar for her “Barrels by the Bay” environmental service project, which kicked off yesterday at the Phillip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, Md.

Rosenberger was one of 15 students selected for the Resolution Project Fellowship Award, which partners with the Clinton Foundation. Over 500 students from across the nation competed for one of the fellowship positions, which provides hands-on  mentorship, world-class global advisory resources, and $5,000 in funding for each awardee’s service project. The fellowship works to positively impact the world with a lifelong commitment to social responsibility.

Chelsea Clinton presented the fellowship award at the 2015 Clinton Global Initiative held March 7 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. The event brought together more than 1,000 innovative student leaders in five focus areas including education, environment and climate change, peace and human rights, poverty alleviation, and public health.

“Barrels by the Bay” aims to bring awareness to the United Nations 22nd Annual World Water Day, Sunday, March 22, while educating the public about water resources. Twenty-two donated Coca-Cola syrup barrels will be painted and transformed into rain barrels by volunteers and students from 11 Anne Arundel County schools. Each barrel’s design will correspond to one of the 22 themes of World Water Day and will be implemented at government buildings within the City of Annapolis, potentially collecting over 600,000 gallons of water a year.

 The water collected will be distributed across land by a watering hose attached to the barrel to water plants,  grass, trees and gardens.

“Barrels by the Bay” is working in partnership with the City of Annapolis, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information on Barrels by the Bay, please visit https://www.facebook.com/barrelsbythebay.