In 2009, Olivia Pfeifer’s winning Caring for the Kenai idea brought a rescue puppy named ‘Rosie’ to the Kenai Municipal Airport, to scare birds away from runways and taxiways. Olivia says the contest ignited an ‘environmental spark’ which changed the course of her life…
“It shaped a lot of my future. I went on to study earth and oceanographic science and I’m actually currently a peace corps community environmental conservation volunteer in Panama.
I think CFK was the first time I really felt the environmental spark so to speak. As a high schooler it gave me the opportunity to learn about fundraising, how local governments work, and how to overcome obstacles. I think 100% that my participation in the project is the most valuable thing I was able to do in my high school career.”
Olivia raised nearly $10,000 for her project, and during the summer of 2010 Rose flushed 1,367 birds from the airport during 70 runs, preventing bird strikes with aircraft and reducing the number of birds euthanized at the airport.
For more about Olivia’s project, click here:
http://www.dogandwhistlegoosecontrol.com/Kenai.html
To view a complete list of CFK winners, click here: http://caringforthekenai.com/winners/