Lancaster Teen Wins $1,000 Scholarship for Ocean Conservation Essay

LANCASTER, Calif. -Lancaster resident Nathaniel Terrell, 15, has been making waves both in and out of the water. This summer, the Quartz Hill High School junior has been named the first-place winner in the prestigious Aquarium of the Pacific / Long Beach Junior Lifeguard Essay Contest, earning a $1,000 scholarship for his essay on environmental stewardship and community responsibility. 

The contest, a collaboration between the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Long Beach Junior Lifeguard (LBJF) program, challenges cadets not only physically but also academically and environmentally. Four first-place winners were selected across age groups, each receiving a $1,000 scholarship funded equally by the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Long Beach Junior Lifeguard Foundation. The awards were presented by Bob and Val Hoffman, longtime Aquarium volunteers and donors, at the annual Long Beach Junior Lifeguard Awards Ceremony.

Terrell, a rising junior at Quartz Hill High School (class of 2027), has participated in the Long Beach Junior Lifeguards for the past three summers and is no stranger to achievement. This summer alone, he raised $945 in the LBJG Buoy-A-Thon fundraiser by swimming 17 ocean buoys (the second-highest amount raised), earned three medals at the 2025 CSLSA Regional Junior Lifeguard Championships, and placed in the top 10 of the grueling 2025 LBJG Ironguard competition with a time of 1:11:00.

In addition to his junior lifeguard training, Terrell is a varsity swimmer at Quartz Hill High School, a Life Scout in Scouting America, and an active youth ministry leader. He has also been recognized with the Moxie Award for outstanding determination in Junior Guards, multiple academic and varsity letters, and certifications in CPR and First Aid.

His award-winning essay stood out for its message that protecting beaches and oceans is both an environmental and community responsibility.

“Being part of Junior Lifeguards has taught me that protecting the beach isn’t just about keeping it clean for myself—it’s about making it safe and enjoyable for everyone,” Terrell said. “When I see people picking up trash on the beach and simply saying, ‘Because we should,’ it reminds me how small actions can have a big impact on the environment and our community.”

Although he has lived in Lancaster since the age of two, Terrell Has spent the last three summers training in Long Beach with the Junior Lifeguard Cadet program. He hopes to pursue a career as a professional lifeguard, combining his passion for public safety with his dedication to environmental stewardship.

“Growing up in Lancaster, far from the coast, I’ve realized how easy it is for people to take beaches for granted,” Terrell said. “This program has shown me that taking care of the ocean is about more than just where you live—it’s about protecting something bigger than yourself.”

For more information about the Long Beach Junior Lifeguard program, Visit

www.longbeachjgs.com.