| Back in March, The Kensington Conservancy presented this year's Pam Bent Conservation Award to Luis Antonio Freitas. This annual award goes to a Sault College student in a School of Natural Environment program who demonstrates good leadership skills, good academic achievement, is a global thinker and demonstrates a passion above and beyond the program expectations. It is in memory of Pam Bent, a seasonal resident in the Desbarats area who had a passion for education and nature. Congratulations Luis, we wish you the best of luck in your future! You can read about Luis' impressive background below. |  TKC's Executive Director Carter Dorscht presenting Luis Antonio Freitas with the Pam Bent Conservation Award at the 2025 Sault College Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards Night on March 18, 2025. |
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Hi all, my name is Luis Antonio Freitas, and I am the 2025 recipient of the Pam Bent Conservation Award from The Kensington Conservancy. I am in my final semester studying Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Sault College. I am from Brazil and have background experience working in the ornamental fish industry, managing a construction and maintenance team for ornamental aquariums and lakes.
It is an incredible feeling to be recognized with this award. My decision to pursue a program from the School of Natural Environment is deeply personal. I hold a bachelor's degree in Chemical Process Technology and was pursuing a second degree in Statistics at another university in Brazil. Alongside my studies, I have always had hobbies connected to aquatic life. I am an aquarist, scuba diver, free diver, spearfisherman, and angler. I never considered making my passion part of my work routine until COVID hit. During the first month of the pandemic, all my classes were suspended, and life came to a complete halt. After a month, I was invited to work for a large aquarium company in my city that remained open during the lockdown as a pet-related business. This experience changed my life completely. For the first time, I was doing something I loved 100%. After working for this business for three years, I decided to take a step further and delve deeper into fish studies while expanding my knowledge of the natural environment. After extensive research, I decided to come to Sault Ste. Marie and embark on the adventure of studying at Sault College.
Receiving the Pam Bent Conservation Award represents recognition of all my efforts to maintain good academic achievement throughout the entire program, along with various volunteer involvements. Seeing Kensington Conservancy maintain a preservation area involving community engagement and science-based decisions is proof that I've made the right choice to pursue this career in Natural Environment.
This summer, I'll return to the position of GIS assistant that I held last year during my co-op with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. I hope to become more involved with Kensington Conservancy soon by participating in the Water Quality Monitoring program as a volunteer Water Ranger.
Hi all, my name is Luis Antonio Freitas, and I am the 2025 recipient of the Pam Bent Conservation Award from The Kensington Conservancy. I am in my final semester studying Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Sault College. I am from Brazil and have background experience working in the ornamental fish industry, managing a construction and maintenance team for ornamental aquariums and lakes.
It is an incredible feeling to be recognized with this award. My decision to pursue a program from the School of Natural Environment is deeply personal. I hold a bachelor's degree in Chemical Process Technology and was pursuing a second degree in Statistics at another university in Brazil. Alongside my studies, I have always had hobbies connected to aquatic life. I am an aquarist, scuba diver, free diver, spearfisherman, and angler. I never considered making my passion part of my work routine until COVID hit. During the first month of the pandemic, all my classes were suspended, and life came to a complete halt. After a month, I was invited to work for a large aquarium company in my city that remained open during the lockdown as a pet-related business. This experience changed my life completely. For the first time, I was doing something I loved 100%. After working for this business for three years, I decided to take a step further and delve deeper into fish studies while expanding my knowledge of the natural environment. After extensive research, I decided to come to Sault Ste. Marie and embark on the adventure of studying at Sault College.
Receiving the Pam Bent Conservation Award represents recognition of all my efforts to maintain good academic achievement throughout the entire program, along with various volunteer involvements. Seeing Kensington Conservancy maintain a preservation area involving community engagement and science-based decisions is proof that I've made the right choice to pursue this career in Natural Environment.
This summer, I'll return to the position of GIS assistant that I held last year during my co-op with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. I hope to become more involved with Kensington Conservancy soon by participating in the Water Quality Monitoring program as a volunteer Water Ranger.
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