Three LCPS graduates awarded the Jane Pratt & Jed Shilling Blue Ridge Education Award

Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains has chosen three graduates from Loudoun County high schools to receive the Jane Pratt & Jed Shilling Blue Ridge Education Award in 2025. The recipients—Parker Price of Loudoun Valley High School, Graydon Berlik and D. J. Bundick of Woodgrove High School—have earned grants to support their college studies and future roles as environmental stewards.

Parker Price, founder of the Loudoun Valley High School Nature & Environmental Club and a member of the National Honor Society, earned an Honorable Mention at this year’s Regional Science Fair. Beyond academics, she volunteers extensively in local community and educational initiatives.

Inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Price seeks to major in Ecology and Microbiology at Virginia Tech, with ambitions to study soil bacteria, pollutant-degrading microorganisms, and to bridge scientific research and ecological preservation.

Graydon Berlik has logged over 100 volunteer hours in environmental stewardship, partnering with organizations like Keep Loudoun Beautiful and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. He also contributed to two sustainability-oriented research projects, focusing on renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. He plans to study Environmental Science at the University of Virginia this fall, crediting his passion to the countless hikes he’s taken in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

D. J. Bundick, whose early interest in the environment sparked from a third-grade project on global warming, has since become Vice-President of Woodgrove’s Environmental Club. As one of two student panelists representing Loudoun County at a state environmental crisis forum, he advocated for stronger sustainable practices. He intends to pursue Environmental Science and Business in college, with goals to champion renewable energy, especially solar and wind—in his future career.

Named for conservation leaders Jane Pratt and the late Jed Shilling, the award recognizes graduating seniors from Loudoun County who demonstrate dedication to environmental stewardship and protection of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Criteria include academic excellence in environmental or biological sciences, tangible volunteer work in regional conservation efforts, and a compelling essay of commitment to the mountains. The honor includes a framed certificate and awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.

“The beauty of the Blue Ridge is a defining backdrop for our lives in Western Loudoun County,” said Larry Malone, Executive Director, Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “Our mountains are precious yet increasingly threatened. The future of these landscapes depends on today’s youth stepping into the role of caretakers. Through this award, Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains—Loudoun County’s only conservation-focused nonprofit—is empowering students to become tomorrow’s conservation leaders.”

Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains is dedicated to preserving, enhancing, and celebrating the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Loudoun County. Through conservation initiatives, educational outreach, and community engagement, FBRM works to ensure the sustainability of the treasured landscape for future generations.