Surf Phenom Lakey Peterson Announces Partnership with the Student Conservation Association

(CHARLESTOWN, NH) - Two-time NSSA Nationals Women’s Open Champion, "Most Outstanding Performance" award recipient and the first pick for the 2011 USA Pac Sun Surf Team, Lakey Peterson is an unstoppable 16-year-old. So unstoppable, she has decided to pledge all her time out of the water to bettering the environment by becoming spokesperson to the Student Conservation Association (SCA).

"Since I spend all my days in the water, I know how important it is to take care of our environment," said Lakey, "The Student Conservation Association does so many amazing things for our national parks, seashores, and other public lands, I wanted to get involved right away."

SCA is the only national organization that builds new generations of conservation leaders by engaging high school and college students in hands on service in all 50 states, from urban communities to national parks and forests. SCA members annually provide more than two million hours of service while protecting endangered species, restoring threatened habitats, building hiking trails and more.

Lakey and SCA will collaborate to raise public awareness about the importance of maintaining a clean environment and leading sustainable lifestyles. Lakey will also trade her bikini for a hard hat and suspenders to participate in SCA service projects at various beach and park sites.

"Lakey’s high performance in surfing and in stewardship form an outstanding example for all," states SCA Vice President Kevin Hamilton. "Her passion for nature is powerful and genuine, and we are delighted to be working together in support of a healthier environment."

Lakey recently placed third in the US Open of Surfing and Supergirl pro junior Contests, and she consistently executes aerial maneuvers on the competitive stage unprecedented in women's surfing. The Santa Barbara native has been surfing for the last five years and isn’t the only talented Peterson – her mother, Sue, was a world record-holding swimmer and her grandfather, Herbert Peterson, invented the Egg McMuffin. Lakey wishes that her dedication and growth will encourage other female surfers to try new moves on the waves and become better surfers. For more info about Lakey, please visit www.lakeypeterson.com.

Since 1957, the Student Conservation Association’s hands-on practice of conservation service has helped to develop new generations of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship, and save the planet. SCA is a national non-profit organization with offices in Boise, ID, Charlestown, NH, Oakland, CA, Pittsburgh, PA, Seattle, WA, and Washington, D.C., and is a partner of AmeriCorps. For more information, visit thesca.org.