Scholarship Information

The Southern Ocean Birding Group Lesser/Bacinski Scholarship

Fred Lesser (left) and Pete Bacinski (right)

In addition to its combined mission of providing programs and field trips and promoting environmental consciousness, the Southern Ocean Birding Group is proud to offer scholarships every year since 2015 for deserving high school students. From 2015-2025 the Southern Ocean Birding Group Lesser/Bacinski Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to a senior at the Ocean County MATES (Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science) school who plans to pursue studies at an institution of higher learning in biology, conservation, environmental studies, or related fields. For 2026, the scholarship program is expanding, offering an additional scholarship to a deserving Southern Regional High School senior. A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student in each high school.

The Lesser/Bacinski Scholarship is named for Fred Lesser and Pete Bacinski, two legendary giants in the New Jersey birding community. Fred Lesser was a naturalist in the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation for more than 20 years, leading field trips, conducting environmental education programs, and participating in breeding bird censuses within Barnegat Bay. Anybody who met Fred would say with great fondness that he was ‘a character’, with delightful ‘Fred stories’ to back it up. Among his many professional accomplishments, Pete Bacinski was a coordinator on the NJ Breeding Bird Atlas, served on the NJ Bird Records Committee, and wrote a weekly column about birds for the Newark Star Ledger. He was a member of the legendary original World Series of Birding team with fellow luminaries Roger Tory Peterson, David Sibley, Pete Dunne, and Bill Boyle, and participated in the WSB for more than 40 years. Pete’s immense knowledge of the natural world was only matched by his sense of humor and infectious smile. Fred and Pete were mentors to countless NJ birders, and we would all be lucky to find mentors like them and should aspire to be mentors like them. Funds to support these scholarships come from club dues, fundraising activities, and monetary gifts to the scholarship program.

For further information or to apply for the scholarship program, please contact:

Cathy Katsianis
Southern Ocean Birding Group
5 Eagleswood Drive
Waretown, NJ 08758

Address any questions to katsianisc@gmail.com.

Applications must be received by April 30, 2026.

The 2024 Southern Ocean Birding Group Lesser/Bacinski Scholarship Winner

The Southern Ocean Birding Group is happy to announce that the 2024 Lesser/Bacinski Scholarship winner was Kailey Miller! She will be attending Lehigh University in the fall. The $1,000 award was presented to Kailey by SOBG president Amy Ryan.

The 2023 Southern Ocean Birding Group Lesser/Bacinski Scholarship Winner

The Southern Ocean Birding Group is happy to announce that the 2023 Lesser/Bacinski Scholarship winner was Nicholas Guerriero! The $1,000 award was presented to Nicholas by SOBG president Amy Ryan.

The 2022 Southern Ocean Birding Group Lesser/Bacinski Scholarship Winner

The Southern Ocean Birding Group is happy to announce that the 2022 Lesser/Bacinski Scholarship winner is Michael Hudak, who will be attending Washington College in Maryland, majoring in Environmental Sciences. The $1,000 award was presented to Michael by Jason Kelsey of the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Sciences.

The 2019 Southern Ocean Birding Group Virginia Syracuse Scholarship Winner

Claudia Schreier is the winner of a $750 scholarship, presented by Sue Puder, President of SOBG. Claudia will be attending University of Delaware in the fall. Congratulations, and best of luck to Claudia!

The 2018 Southern Ocean Birding Group Virginia Syracuse Scholarship Winner

Sara Lapsley is the winner of a $750 scholarship, presented on June 5th by Morry Kapitan, Vice President of SOBG. Sara will be attending Stockton University in the fall.