To recognize outstanding achievement and vision in electronic communications technology

Ivona Lerman, a master’s student in Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University (MSU), is the winner of the 2000 Carol A. Ratza Memorial Scholarship.
Learn About Bald Eagles as Indicators of DDT and PCB Levels in the Great Lakes

Lerman sees great value and importance in educating the public on environmental issues:

“People cannot continue to live in the boundaries of their homes, offices and cities, pretending that what is outside is not their concern. An understanding of the environment is crucial for long-term survival and happiness.

“When I decided to become a marine biologist, I committed myself to understanding aquatic environments and what surrounds them. And when I decided to become an environmental journalist, I resolved to fight ignorance. In doing so, I have great tools on my side: knowledge of natural sciences, a passion for writing, and skills in the electronic media.”

A native of Zagreb, Croatia, Lerman holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla. Her previous work includes positions with the University of Natural Sciences in Zagreb, Florida’s Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and as a freelance photo journalist. At MSU, Lerman is editor of the EJ News, newsletter of the Environmental Journalism Program, and maintains the program’s web site.

About the Carol A. Ratza Memorial Scholarship 
The scholarship is in memory of Carol A. Ratza, a veteran employee of the Great Lakes Commission and a dedicated advocate for the protection of the Great Lakes. With unique vision, Carol created and led numerous influential communications projects, the most notable being the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) and the Great Lakes Regional Air Toxic Emissions Inventory. These groundbreaking initiatives applied the latest information technology to Commission priorities, changing forever the way our region communicates and does business. Although Carol’s career was cut short by her death in 1997, the Great Lakes Commission, and the region as a whole, continues to benefit from her creative thinking, high standards and human grace.