Congratulations 2023 EPP/MSI and Hollings undergraduate scholarship recipients!

June 12, 2023

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The NOAA Office of Education has selected 130 Ernest F. Hollings undergraduate scholars and 12 José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) undergraduate scholars for the classes of 2023. Scholars receive a two-year academic scholarship for their junior and senior years, paid summer internship opportunities, and funding to participate in two national scientific conferences.

The class of 2023 EPP/MSI and Hollings scholars during their orientation at NOAA in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Image credit: Chris Zimmer Photography)

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Jump to list of scholarship recipients

NOAA received 699 applications for the 2023 classes of these two competitive scholarships. The selected applicants for these undergraduate scholarship programs come from 86 different campuses in 31 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

This year, the scholars were welcomed with an in-person orientation at NOAA in Silver Spring, Maryland. This orientation was the first to occur onsite since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. The event began with a welcome and lively Q&A session with the keynote speaker, NOAA Administrator, Rick Spinrad, Ph.D.. “You’ve shown your capability by getting into this program. Take the opportunity to learn something new ... I guarantee when you finish your scholarships you will be as passionate about this agency as I am,” said Spinrad.

Rick Spinrad speaking on stage. He wears a suit with a NOAA pin on the lapel. — NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., was the keynote speaker at the 2023 EPP/MSI and Hollings scholar orientation. (Image credit: Chris Zimmer Photography)
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Louisa Koch presenting from a podium on stage. She smiles out at the audience. — Louisa Koch, Director of NOAA Education, congratulates the 2023 scholars at orientation. (Image credit: Chris Zimmer Photography)
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Christos, dressed in a suit and tie, speaks on stage in front of a large projection screen. — Christos Michalopoulos, the Deputy Director of the NOAA Office of Education, welcomed scholars to the 2023 orientation. (Image credit: Chris Zimmer Photography)
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The EPP/MSI and Hollings scholars attended orientation from May 30 - June 1, 2023. The three-day event concluded the EPP/MSI undergraduate scholars’ two-week orientation, which started on May 22, 2023, and also included professional development sessions and a field trip to Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

On the first day of orientation, scholars heard from NOAA Education leadership and learned about the breadth of work at NOAA. During the remainder of orientation, speakers from each of NOAA’s line offices spoke about their work and answered scholar questions. Each speaker also shared their own career path at NOAA. The event closed with a two-hour career fair, where scholars had a chance to speak one-on-one with NOAA staff from across the agency.

The 2023 class of EPP/MSI undergraduate scholars during their two-week orientation in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Image credit: Elvis Efamba/NOAA Office of Education)

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The 2023 EPP/MSI undergraduate scholars began their first of two summer internships on June 5, 2023. The class of 2023 Hollings undergraduate scholars will complete their internships during the summer of 2024.

“We are excited to congratulate you as your NOAA adventure begins! I hope you use this opportunity to learn a lot, better understand what interests you, what kind of career you want to have, and what it takes to get there,” said Louisa Koch, Director of NOAA Education.

The scholarship application period for the class of 2024 opens on September 1, 2023, and will close on January 31, 2024.

Photos from the 2023 NOAA scholar orientation

A group of Hollings scholars pose in front of the wave pool sculpture at NOAA in Silver Spring, Maryland, during their 2023 orientation. (Image credit: Chris Zimmer Photography)

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Photos in a grid: Each speaker is presenting on stage that also has a projection screen in the background. They are all wearing blazers or suits with the exception of LCDR Robert Mitchell and CDR Wendy Lewis, who are in NOAA Corps uniforms. — Speakers from each line office shared research areas and their own career journeys at the 2023 EPP/MSI and Hollings undergraduate orientation. Speakers clockwise: Kate Naughten, Director of NOAA Fisheries Office of Communication; Kevin Fryar, Chief of Staff of NOAA Satellites' GOES-R; Michelle, Mainelli, Acting Deputy Director of the National Weather Service; Terence Lynch, Director of NOAA Research's Office of Science Support; LCDR Robert Mitchell, Aviation Officer in the Office of Marine and Aviation Technology and CDR Wendy Lewis, Chief of Staff in the Office of Marine and Aviation Technology. (Image credit: Chris Zimmer Photography)
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Four photos in a grid. In each photo, groups of students engage with NOAA line office representatives. The photos catch them taking flyers, talking to representatives one-on-one or in a group, and talking to each other in the crowd. — On day three of orientation, the scholars attend a career fair, where they can talk to representatives from each line office one-on-one and learn more about potential internship opportunities. (Image credit: Chris Zimmer Photography)
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List of 2023 EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship recipients

State	Scholar name	Institution
AK	Thyme Brown	Alaska Pacific University
CA	Javier Mata	California State University, Long Beach
CA	Devin Shaw	College of the Desert
CA	Kelli Ong	University of California, Santa Cruz
FL	Lalah Choice	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
HI	Andie Le Doux	University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa
HI	Talofa Fe'a	University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa
IL	Ashley Garcia	Northern Illinois University
MS	Cameron Bennett	Jackson State University
MS	Makenna Collins	Jackson State University
TX	Suzanne West	Austin Community College
TX	Savannah Stephenson	Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

List of 2023 Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship recipients

State	Scholar name	Institution
AK	Grace Veenstra	University of Alaska Fairbanks
AK	Reid Griffin	University of Alaska Southeast
AL	Aurora Baker	The University of Alabama
AL	Kylie Overton	The University of Alabama
AL	Sydney Aldrich	The University of Alabama
AL	Samantha Jerry	University of Alabama at Birmingham
AZ	Kay Poonawala	University of Arizona
CA	Kayla Cheney	California State University, Long Beach
CA	Alyssa Walter	California State University, Monterey Bay
CA	Avalon Provance	California State University, Monterey Bay
CA	Nishita Dashpute	University of California, Berkeley
CA	Tiffany Mar	University of California, Berkeley
CA	Miles Dailey	University of California, Los Angeles
CA	Emily Ignatoff	University of California, San Diego
CA	Meghan Kaschner	University of California, San Diego
CA	Peyton Steffek	University of California, Santa Barbara
CA	Asher Wescott	University of California, Santa Cruz
CA	Benjamin Theunissen	University of California, Santa Cruz
CA	Madison Medina	University of California, Santa Cruz
CA	Olivia Berman	University of California, Santa Cruz
CA	Sadie Gardiner	University of California, Santa Cruz
CA	Taya Ambrose	University of California, Santa Cruz
CO	Amanda Sparks	Adams State University
CO	Allison Hartwell	Colorado State University
CO	Camden Opfer	University of Colorado at Boulder
CO	Karla Lemus Gordillo	University of Colorado at Boulder
DC	Aileen McDonald	American University
DC	John Stocker	Georgetown University
DC	Makai Williams	Howard University
DE	Alyssa Wentzel	University of Delaware
DE	Elizabeth Roros	University of Delaware
FL	Elizabeth Oliver	Eckerd College
FL	Karin Ebey	Eckerd College
FL	Sophie Strock	Eckerd College
FL	Sydney Paull	Eckerd College
FL	Cianna Cilenti	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
FL	Mia Gomez	Florida Atlantic University
FL	Sophia Hemsi	Florida International University
FL	Sophia Brice	Florida Southern College
FL	Charles Azzarito	Florida State University
FL	Corinne Renshaw	Nova Southeastern University
FL	Kira Zautcke	University of Florida
FL	Margaret Taylor	University of Florida
FL	Michael Self	University of Florida
FL	Ashley Fanning	University of Miami
FL	Ellie Barkyoumb	University of Miami
FL	Khrista Nicholas	University of Miami
FL	Leah Henseler	University of Miami
FL	Lindsay Weingart	University of Miami
FL	Rebecca Buwalda	University of Miami
FL	Ryan McMullen	University of Miami
FL	Sydney Wray	University of Miami
FL	Audrey Brandt	University of South Florida
GA	Shania Green	University of Georgia
HI	Mehana Leafchild	Chaminade University of Honolulu
HI	Kara Murphy	University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
HI	Morgan Youngblood	University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
HI	Allison Yamakawa	University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa
HI	Saidee Geurts	University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa
IA	Cheryl Reuben	University of Iowa
IL	Abigail McDonnell	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
IL	Kyla Wolski	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
LA	Emily Allen	Northeast Louisiana University
LA	Haniston Holloway	Northeast Louisiana University
MA	Steven Roche	Boston College
MA	Dina Millerman	Brandeis University
MA	Rose Nolan	Brandeis University
MA	Ruby Krasnow	Clark University
MA	Faith DaSilva	Endicott College
MA	Kiran Bajaj	Northeastern University
MA	Laurel Butterworth	Wellesley College
MD	Jaida Rhea	Goucher College
MD	Alexandra Kreis	University of Maryland, College Park
ME	Roger Wilder	Bowdoin College
ME	William Goddard	Bowdoin College
MN	Joshua Timm	Itasca Community College
MN	Josiah Melke	Saint Cloud State University
MS	Christian Boudreaux	University of Mississippi
NC	Logan Evans	Duke University
NC	Samantha Berlan	Duke University
NC	Sasha Provost	Duke University
NC	Christine Chan	East Carolina University
NC	Cullen McNinch	University of North Carolina at Charlotte
NE	Caitlyn Scott	University of Nebraska - Lincoln
NH	Gavin Fry	Dartmouth College
NH	Emma McGuire	University of New Hampshire
NH	Kennedy McGrath	University of New Hampshire
NJ	Julianne Chan	Rutgers University - New Brunswick
NY	Olivia Kilmer	Columbia University
NY	Benjamin Moose	Cornell University
NY	Skyler Carlson	Monroe Community College
NY	Ishika Joshi	Sarah Lawrence College
NY	C'Lannye James	Union College
NY	Caroline Monaco	Union College
OH	Jules Lieberman	Oberlin College
OH	Abby Charlton	Ohio Wesleyan University
OK	Kyle Eskew	University of Oklahoma
OK	Lucas Jones	University of Oklahoma
OK	Natalie Machado	University of Oklahoma
OK	Roy Patrick Galang	University of Oklahoma
OR	Alexis Hadinger	Oregon State University
OR	Eleanor Crotty	Reed College
OR	Ella Ashford	Willamette University
PA	Jackson Boyle	Gettysburg College
PA	Asha Spencer	Pennsylvania State University
PA	Bridget Reheard	Pennsylvania State University
PA	Jacqueline Kiszka	Pennsylvania State University
PA	Mallory Wickline	Pennsylvania State University
RI	Anjali Shah	Brown University
RI	Keller Morrison	Brown University
RI	Sofia Nuri	Brown University
RI	Owen Fleischer	University of Rhode Island
SC	Zoe Willis	College of Charleston
SC	Ainsley Cain	University of South Carolina
SC	Esther Adelson	University of South Carolina
SC	Kelley Strike	University of South Carolina
SC	Madeline Rich	University of South Carolina
TX	Alanna Combs	Houston Community College
TX	Cameron Stacey	Texas A&M University
TX	Juliette Rocha	Texas A&M University
TX	Kate Stapleton	Texas A&M University
VA	Krithika Layagala	College of William and Mary
VA	Sarah Herrera	College of William and Mary
VA	Emily Lekas	University of Richmond
VA	Evelyn Weaver	Virginia Wesleyan College
WA	Annabel Wade	University of Washington
WA	Jenna Callan	University of Washington
WA	Kathryn Whitmer	University of Washington
WA	Vlad Munteanu	University of Washington
WA	Alexis Watkins	Whatcom Community College

Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship

The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship was established in 2005 in honor of Senator Ernest F. Hollings, who was well known for supporting ocean policy and conservation. The Hollings Scholarship includes a two-year academic award of $9,500 per year and a 10-week, full-time, paid summer internship opportunity at any NOAA facility nationwide. Scholars also receive funding to present their NOAA research projects at two national scientific conferences. Students apply in their second year of undergraduate study and must be a full-time undergraduate majoring in a NOAA mission field such as oceanic, environmental, biological, and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, physical sciences, social sciences, and teacher education.

José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship

The Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) was established in 2000 to support the education of postsecondary students pursuing degrees that directly support NOAA’s mission. In 2019, Congress renamed the program as the José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program in honor of Congressman Serrano. The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship includes a two-year academic award of $9,500 per year and two summer internship opportunities. Scholars also receive funds to present the results of their NOAA research projects at two national conferences. Students must attend a minority serving institution, have and maintain a 3.2 or higher GPA, and have declared a major in a NOAA-mission related discipline including, but not limited to, oceanic, environmental, biological, and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, physical sciences, including physics, geography and hydrology as well as social sciences.

Contact: NOAA Office of Education

For the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, please email studentscholarshipprograms@noaa.gov

For the Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions Undergraduate Scholarship, please email epp.usp@noaa.gov

Congratulations 2023 EPP/MSI and Hollings undergraduate scholarship recipients!

List of 2023 EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship recipients

List of 2023 Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship recipients

Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship

José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship

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