Grant To Help Good Zoo Offer Students Work Opportunities
The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced Monday that Oglebay's Good Zoo, in collaboration with West Liberty University, is among the eight recipients of the 21st Century Museum Professionals Program grant. Each awarded institution will receive up to $500,000 for projects aimed at providing professional development to the museum workforce, training and recruiting future museum professionals, and sharing effective practices in education and training.
With this grant, the Good Zoo will develop a paid experiential development program to eliminate affordability barriers for aspiring zoo professionals seeking practical work experience. Partnering with West Liberty University, the zoo will conduct three annual virtual workshops to introduce regional high school guidance counselors and their students to academic, career, and financial aid opportunities.
Additionally, the project will establish application guidelines and curricula to support annual paid stipends for six undergraduate students interning at zoos nationwide, five undergraduate students participating in animal husbandry or conservation fellowships, and for six post-graduate apprenticeships at the Oglebay Good Zoo.
"The partnership between West Liberty University and Oglebay Good Zoo enables students enrolled in the Zoo Science and Applied Conservation major to engage in a very unique educational experience," said Dr. Karen Kettler, West Liberty University Dean of College of Sciences. "The curriculum provides opportunities for experiential learning with the living animal collection on the WLU campus and with animals at the Good Zoo to help students gain valuable skills as they enter the workforce. This funding will provide students with expanded opportunities and hopefully encourage others to enter the field of animal husbandry and conservation."
Good Zoo Director Joe Greathouse said he was excited to give students another portal into careers in zoos.
"This exciting funding opportunity enables us to continue a long history of Oglebay contributing to the development of future zoo professionals," he said. "We look forward to the opportunity of removing financial barriers from applicants to this program by providing paid experiential opportunities and on-site housing to make entry-level zoo careers accessible to our future colleagues."
Over the past 20 years, Oglebay Good Zoo is only the fourth zoo to receive this prestigious grant, joining the ranks of the Phoenix Zoo, Bronx Zoo and Brookfield Zoo.
"This grant award, along with our recent success in the hellbender conservation effort, serves as an incredible reminder to our community of the zoo's far-reaching impact," said Wheeling Park Commission President & CEO Bob Peckenpaugh. "While it remains a popular family destination in the state and a point of pride for Wheeling residents, the zoo also stands as a global leader in numerous conservation, research, and education areas."