Overview and mission of Tucker River Fellows

This program was created to honor Randy Tucker’s 26-year tenure at Girls Preparatory School (GPS). The mission of the Tucker River Fellows program at GPS is to prepare future leaders to understand and have an impact on the conservation of the Tennessee River.  Throughout the program, fellows will engage in interdisciplinary scholarship and experiential learning. Fellows are selected prior to their freshman year and will spend part of the summer and following academic year engaged in experiential learning about the many issues impacting their local watershed as well as learning about the historical, ecological, political, economic and aesthetic significance of the Tennessee River. 

During the second year in the program, fellows will focus on leadership skills while continuing to learn about the river and watershed. They will read and discuss the works of current and historic environmental thinkers. They will choose a focus and will work with local experts, scientific literature and policy to become more knowledgeable about their chosen topic. They will then collect, analyze, and publish data. Throughout the program, fellows will also become familiar with the various entities that implement, enforce, and monitor watershed policy. By the end of the program, fellows will propose solutions to watershed problems and become life-long advocates for clean, healthy watersheds in the Chattanooga area and beyond.  

Additional information:

The first Tucker River Fellows Cohort will consist of 6 GPS students and 2 students from CGLA (Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy). Students will apply and be selected in April/ May 2014.