Honoring Ben, Supporting Students

The Dr. Walter ‘Ben’ Bohl Scholarship fund directly supports both local and international students ability to attend life-changing field study experiences at Forfar Field Station. The scholarship was established to honor the many years Ben spent working for International Field Studies as the co-founder and Executive Director of IFS from 1970-2015. IFS is committed to increasing accessibility to marine science education for local Bahamians and US students.

2023 - 2024 Scholarship Recipients

Madison Hajek - Forfar Marine Science Program (Fall 2023 Cohort)

“My time spent at ForFar was full of new adventures and experiences that I will never forget. I enjoyed learning about the different ecosystems on Andros and the organisms that inhabit them, as well as exploring the ocean and becoming Advanced Open Water SCUBA certified. This opportunity allowed me to expand my knowledge on marine conservation and gain more appreciation and passion for the natural world around us. Before this trip, I had only been to the ocean twice in my life, so this program opened my eyes to a whole other world that excites me for my future career. I am very grateful to have been awarded the Dr. Walter “Ben” Bohl Scholarship, the financial assistance significantly helped me in attending this program. Thank you again.”

Talia Payling - Forfar Marine Science Program (Fall 2023 Cohort)

Wow, where do I even begin? This experience has been incredible! It's not just a chapter in my life; it’s a gripping adventure filled with new challenges, unforgettable moments, and the creation of lifelong connections. The past six weeks have been nothing short of amazing, and without the financial assistance, it wouldn’t have been possible. This scholarship has been a game-changer for me. Initially, it served as a window into the captivating work of Marine Science, offering valuable insights into potential career paths and educational opportunities in comparison to Biomedical science. However, it quickly transformed into something much more exhilarating. I’m now eagerly applying for Marine Biology courses at university, fuelled by a more in-depth passion and a broader perspective on the field. But that’s not all! This experience has opened doors to exciting job opportunities which I hadn't considered, including the possibility of leading programs, being an aquarium diver, or being an artificial reef builder. Becoming SCUBA certified was an absolute highlight, and attending lectures on fish ID, geology, herpetology, elasmobranchs, and even a lionfish dissection was both educational and thrilling. I even hope to progress my scuba journey and earn a Dive Master certification one day. I want to express my deepest gratitude to you, the scholarship donor, for making all of this possible, your support has not only shaped my academic journey but has ignited a passion within me that I can’t wait to explore and influence my future endeavours, thank you for being a crucial part of this incredible chapter in my life.

2022 - 2023 Scholarship Recipients

Cody Griffin - Sundrops Montessori

“I learned so much so many cool and interesting things at Forfar field station.  I learned a tremendous amount of information on site and also going out and snorkeling and exploring the coral reefs and blue holes. I also learned a lot about the local culture and went out and experienced what it’s like to live there.  Thank you so much Forfar for the opportunity and all the information and so much cool stuff I’ve learned there in just a week!”

Ethan Hall - Sundrops Monetessori

“My Forfar field study experience was amazing!  The program was a great balance of fun and education and I would have to say I learned an abundance of information.  I had an absolute blast snorkeling and visiting the blue holes. I also enjoyed our nature walk around Pigeon Cay, as well as going to the Androsia factory.  While I was there, I learned a variety of information about the history and culture of Andros Island. Going to Forfar strengthened my friendships, allowed me to be more responsible, independent and gain a wealth of knowledge about the ocean and it’s coral reef. I know for sure this experience has left a positive impact on my life and an experience I will never forget. Thank you for making this trip possible for me.”

Jack Hansen - Northwestern Schools

“My time at Forfar was amazing! One thing I will always remember was what I saw while snorkeling! Under that crystal clear water was beautiful coral, fish, and other creatures that I will probably never see again. I learned about coral identification and how we can help conserve our coral. My favorite place we went to was Captain Bill’s blue hole. It was so refreshing and I had a great time jumping off the edge! Learning about coral conservation has already benefitted me! I have already been telling my family to stop throwing trash on the ground, because that is a main source of the death of coral. I had a great time on this trip and will never forget it!”

Jordan Monaghan - The Columbus Zoo

“A positive memory that I have from my time at Forfar Field Station is how welcoming and kind the staff was! The staff was very interactive with us students which made the trip so much more fun. A positive memory that I have from my time on Andros is seeing the community and learning about them. Something new I learned was that some of our sunscreens can be harmful to our oceans. I also learned about the different species of ocean life including fish, sharks, and corals. My favorite site that I visited was Red Bays because I got to learn about the community and how they make a living. Also seeing a little bit of the culture there in Andros, Bahamas. 

I also want to thank you and the donors for granting me the scholarship money so that I could join in on this amazing and once in a lifetime experience. I had a wonderful time and was able to use what I learned during the lecture times in my competition piece (about ocean pollution) for school. I will forever hold the memories and the friendships that I made on this trip. Thank you again for helping me go on this trip!”

Renaye Burrows - Forfar Marine Science Program (Winter Cohort)

“A positive memory I have from my time at Forfar Field Station was learning about blue hole testing and being able to participate in the making of Androsia. While on site, I also learned how to sea kayak and received my Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certificate. My favorite activity was scuba diving and my favorite site was A-flats.”

Amanda Yokley - Hoover/Jackson

“A positive memory from my time on Andros was visiting the folks in Red Bays. Everybody we interacted with was super friendly, and I got the opportunity to learn more about Androsian culture. It was a really unique and fun opportunity to learn first-hand what life on Andros is like and why, along with witnessing the incredible skill of the locals in basket weaving and music. On site I learned a lot more about tide pools, both from the interns and from exploring some myself. As someone from a land-locked state, it was really cool to be able to see the changes in the tide pools firsthand. Especially as someone who didn’t know much about them before arriving, it was also really fun to go back to the interns afterwards and talk to them to learn more about them. My favorite activity was the snorkel at Staniard Rock because of how diverse and densely populated the area was. It really put into perspective the relationships between the organisms and how interconnected the entire ecosystem really is. It was one thing to read about the ecosystem, but it was another thing entirely to see it alive before your eyes.”

Jason Thomas - Bishop Watterson HS

“My experience at Forfar is something that I will remember for the rest of my life! While at Forfar I learned and experienced many things, including human effects on the oceanic environment, many different forms of wildlife, and the diverse culture in the Bahamas. I saw many plants and animals I would never have had the chance to see in Ohio. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!”

Darwyn Sawyer

“A couple days before I was set to leave for Forfar, I got cold feet. I wondered whether I'd made the right choice, whether I was really committed to 6 weeks away from home. Before the FMSP, I'd never been away from my family for more than 4 days. Now, I can't possibly imagine a world where I didn't go to Forfar -- I have to say it's one of the best experiences of my life to date. I did so many things, I grew so much, I came into my own at Forfar. It challenged me to push myself, to step out of my comfort zone, to let loose and live a little. So I did. In return it gave me friendship, independence, memories, knowledge, and so much more love for science than I had before. I know without a shadow of a doubt that this experience has changed me for the better, and the things I learned there will help me throughout my life, education, and career. It means so much to me that I was able to attend.”

Kyajah Davis

“My time that I spent at Forfar was amazing and the knowledge I gained will definitely stay with me forever . Living on a beach for 6 weeks was the best part for me . My experiences at Forfar opened my eyes at what’s going on in our oceans and our environments . Learning and interacting with nature made me want to take saving the planet more seriously . The experiences at Forfar made me want to pursue my career path of becoming a marine biologist even more and grow to love it . I am so grateful for having the opportunity to attend ForFar and gain a scholarship as well . I hope you continue to sponsor young individuals like myself who are ready to protect the environment, live sustainably, and have a love for the natural world.”

2020 - 2021 Scholarship Recipients

Tenee Burrows

“My experience at Forfar was most definitely a memorable one. I've always been fascinated with animals, especially aquatic life. I normally used to spend most of my days watching the sea because, unlike other children, I am not a strong swimmer. When I applied for the Marine Program at Forfar, I knew there was going to be times when I would have to participate in certain activities which would require swimming. I was confident that during my six weeks there my skills would grow and when it would be time for me to leave I would leave knowing how to swim. And that's exactly what happened!!

I went from staying close to shore where I could only touch bottom, to jumping into blue holes and swimming in the tongue of the ocean and snorkeling around tropical beaches where I saw the most vibrant coral reefs and colourful fish!! I've also gotten the chance to learn how to kayak and partake in wilderness first aid activities. During my six weeks I was able to gain more hands-on experience and knowledge about marine life, conservation and ecotourism. Being a marine student this experience will totally benefit me in the future. I am more than grateful that I was able to participate in this program!!”

Alexis Haag

“Those six weeks were the absolute best of my life thus far. As an Ohioan, studying marine conservation can be very difficult sometimes, especially when you are not surrounded by others who you feel you can connect with. At Forfar, I finally felt like I had found my people. I was excited but also terrified for this trip beforehand, as I was going to be surrounded by almost 20 strangers for six weeks in an international country. After being there however, I did not find myself uncomfortable once, and I was able to tap into this other side of me that had laid dormant for so long I almost forgot it existed - true and constant happiness. I regained my zest for life. Now that I am home again, I am able to see clearly just how much of life I had been missing out on. Forfar and the people there helped me understand the utter vibrancy of life again, and that is something I can never express enough gratefulness for. I left a piece of my heart there, and hopefully I can go back one day and retrieve it. Thank you for making this possible for me.”

Ashley Smiley

“I've wanted to return to Forfar since the last time I visited back in 2016. As soon as I saw the summer gap year program was added, I jumped at the opportunity. Being in school and paying for tuition, as well as a different trip to Brazil, I knew I would be cutting it close. I worked 25+ hours a week all spring semester, on top of being a dual sport athlete, so I cannot emphasize enough how much this scholarship meant to me and my family. In addition to that, my 6 weeks at Forfar were nothing short of amazing. Long term, I would like to work in marine animal rehabilitation and conservation education, so the FMSP gave me more insight into marine science that'll benefit my career, all while exploring both the land and water of Andros (both are stunning!). I also met some of the greatest people ever- the locals, the staff, and the other students in the June cohort all helped make this experience that much sweeter. Thank you again for giving me one of the scholarships for this program- I'm so grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to return to and study at Forfar, and it wouldn't have been possible without this support!”

Rae Baker

“I came to Forfar to learn about the impacts of climate change, and how I can lessen them. I learned so much everyday, more than I ever expected. My goal is to help protect and learn more about Michigan’s Great Lakes before I move to marine research later in my career. I knew to some degree that pollution and other human impacts were spoiling the fresh water, but since my time at the Forfar station I have been inspired to conduct my own research to find solutions to these issues. I have contacted NOAA and local professors researching the lakes to get a start on my biology research career. I hope to join them and to get the communities involved in better protecting our greatest resource. If it wasn’t for my experiences at Forfar, and what I learned, I wouldn’t have been equipped with the knowledge to take on this project.

It’s not all science I learned however, coming to Forfar was many firsts in life and lessons in itself. This was my first time leaving the country, my first flight, and my first time learning about another culture in detail. I learned how to pack, how to shop sustainably, how to interview, and how to manage time and people. These are all things I will remember and improve on as I continue through high school and college.”

Geniah Taylor

A senior at Huntley Christie High School on Andros, BS, Geniah received the scholarship from IFS to attend a week-long field experience in June 2019. She joined Sisters Middle and High School students all the way from Sisters, Oregon for a week of island ecology adventures exploring Andros!

“My favorite experience was the land days when we went to the different blue holes and I got to see places in Andros that I’ve never seen before.” - Geniah Taylor

Julio Newbold

A junior at Central High School on Andros, BS, Julio received the scholarship from IFS to join in on the marine biology field experience with Manistee High School students visiting from Michigan in June 2019.

Watch our Forfar Field Station Experience video to see Julio and the Manistee students as they discuss the classic week-long experience at Forfar.

Clint Cargill

Clint, another scholarship recipient from Central High School on Andros, BS, joined the Sister’s Middle and High School during their June 2019 trip focused on island ecology.

“My time at Forfar made me more knowledgeable about nature and makes me want to leave the house and explore instead of playing video games all summer.” - Clint Cargill

Miracle Pratt

Miracle was a scholarship recipient from Huntley Christie High School on Andros, BS who joined students from Gahanna West in July 2019.

Rating the trip as ‘10/10 lifechanging’, Miracle recalled her favorite experience at Forfar was, “snorkeling Turtle Reef and seeing the Tongue of the Ocean!”