Bloom Hamner

Citizen Science Award for Coleman Davis '18



Coleman Davis '18 receives his Citizen Science Award from Mattamuskeet Refuge Manager Pete Campbell

Citizen Science Award for Coleman Davis '18

Greenies senior has volunteered in his hometown for six years

Vacationers from far and wide have sunbathed in North Carolina's Outer Banks. There is also the lesser known Inner Banks region, and that is the part of the state that Coleman Davis '18 calls home. Coleman's community of Swan Quarter is not much larger than Christ School, with a population of 324. But it is in the same county (Hyde) as North Carolina largest natural lake: Lake Mattamuskeet.

For six years now, the waterfowl and wildlife of Lake Mattamuskeet have benefitted from Coleman's volunteer service. He was presented with a Citizen Science Award from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service this month, as well as a pin to recognize more than 500 hours of work Coleman has put into the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge since 2011.

The North Carolina Nature Conservancy interviewed Coleman in July for an upcoming article and video.

"I never thought about getting any awards or credit for it, I thought I was just doing it to help the refuge," Coleman said. "It grew on me, and now I want to continue doing it in the summers when I go off to college, too."

Coleman's volunteer work on the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge has included a project on shoreline erosion, fish migration studies and building trails.

Coleman is a third-generation Christ School student. A great grandfather, William Cathey, graduated in 1908. Coleman's father, Calvin Blythe Davis '73, and even an uncle, George Thomas Davis '72, have also preceded him as Greenies. Coleman will be a Senior Leader in the Harris House this school year and is a member of the Notes from the Soul music outreach group.