STAND UP FOR GREAT LAKES

Protecting, Educating and Standing Up for all Great Lakes, Rivers & Streams

About Us

A LOVE OF WATER

It begins with a shared love of the water. Water is a substance that makes up two thirds of our bodies, that covers 70 percent of the earth’s surface, and that is vital to our survival. It also happens to create an epic playground.

A CHALLENGE OF A LIFETIME

Making a difference with such vast natural resource seems like an enormous task. We believe that numerous little actions equal big results. Also, crossing such a vast stretch of open water is no simple matter. Whether sailing, kiting, or kayaking, it is a voyage to be treated with respect.

PRESERVING THE LAKES

The lakes are under threat. Oil pipelines of questionable integrity, invasive species, sewage leakage, pharmaceutical pollution and agricultural runoff, the list of threats to these majestic and vital bodies of water is endless.

We are surfers, paddlers, kayakers, fisherman, and sailors. We love our lakes – the great ones and the small ones – and the opportunity to make such a significant journey across one of them thrills us.

On a Stand-Up Paddleboard, it’s even harder. Almost every muscle is engaged: the feet, legs, and core for balance; the back and arms for power. Put simply this is the challenge of a lifetime, both physically and mentally.

So we’re putting our efforts to good use. We’ll be raising money to help advocate and educate. We’d love it if you could donate to our cause!

2026 Scholarship Winner, Lydia Thomson!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Stand Up for Great Lakes Awards $2,000 Scholarship to Alpena Graduate Lydia Thomson

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Stand Up for Great Lakes is proud to announce that Lydia Thomson, a 2026 graduate of Alpena High School, has been selected as the recipient of the organization’s $2,000 Great Lakes Stewardship Scholarship. The scholarship supports students pursuing higher education with a commitment to preserving and protecting the Great Lakes, rivers, and streams that are vital to Michigan’s environment, economy, and way of life.

Thomson will attend Michigan Technological University this fall, where she plans to study Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Naval Systems. Her goal is to apply engineering and technology to freshwater research and exploration, including the design and development of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) used to study and protect underwater environments.

For Thomson, protecting the Great Lakes is deeply personal. “A really big part of all of this is it’s my home, right? The Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary that’s right there, all the shipwrecks, the history, it’s my history. It’s my home. It’s my town,” said Thomson. “That’s what’s really important to me, preserving it and taking care of it and really keeping it around. It’s what helps my town’s economy grow. Without the Great Lakes there, we wouldn’t really be there.”

Thomson’s commitment to protecting Michigan’s waterways began long before applying for the scholarship. Through her everyday actions and community involvement, she has demonstrated a strong sense of environmental stewardship. “I always would pick up the litter I’d see on the side. It was never a moment where I was like, this is it. It’s always been there,” Thomson said. “It’s my job to protect it because I use it, right? It’s like your house. You take care of it. You got to clean it. That’s how I feel about the Great Lakes.”

Stand Up for Great Lakes Founder Kwin Morris said Thomson represents exactly why the organization created the scholarship. “I’m so happy there are people like Lydia out there and it gives me hope for the future. That’s exactly why we have started the scholarship—to help in a small way and to also help future generations follow their passions,” said Morris.

Stand Up for Great Lakes Board President Stephanie Adkins said Thomson’s passion and dedication stood out immediately during the scholarship review process. “When our board was reviewing Lydia’s application for this scholarship, we knew she would be a great fit right away,” said Adkins. “She is already an active steward for cleaning up our Great Lakes. She participates in beach cleanups; she is very active in studying water quality and is headed to Michigan Tech to build ROVs for underwater research. Her passion is contagious, and we can’t wait to see all she accomplishes.”

Stand Up for Great Lakes