NOAA welcomes the 2022 NOAA scholars!

June 9, 2022

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NOAA Office of Education has selected 127 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 2022. 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.

Ten young adults in business casual clothing pose outside. — The 2022 class of EPP/MSI scholars during their scholarship orientation. From left to right, Christian Schnell, Courtney White, Martin Gonzalez, Alison Novara, Ingrid Martinson, Kiah Matthews, Michaela Wong, Hailey Poole, Richarde Graham II, and Alexandria Tennant. (Image credit: Elvis Efamba/Office of Education)

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“Congratulations to the 2022 class of NOAA scholars! We are delighted to welcome them to our team of extraordinary individuals who advance NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship,” said Louisa Koch, Director of NOAA Education.

This year, 704 applications were submitted for these two competitive scholarships. The selected applicants of both NOAA undergraduate scholarship programs come from a total of 84 different campuses in 33 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

The 2022 EPP/MSI undergraduate scholars finished their two-week orientation on June 2, 2022, and began their first of two summer internships on June 6, 2022. The Hollings undergraduate scholars attended their virtual orientation from May 31-June 2, 2022, and will complete their internships during the summer of 2023.

Nadya holds a crab in one hand and uses calipers in the other to measure the width of the body. She is sitting at a lab bench with other measurement tools, including forceps and a plastic weighing boat. — 2020 Hollings scholar Nadya Gutierrez measures a marsh crab collected at Northern Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve during her 2021 summer internship. This photo was taken during a time when indoor masks were not required for vaccinated individuals in University of South Carolina facilities. (Maggie Pelton)
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At the beginning of the virtual orientation, scholars were welcomed by NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. Dr. Spinrad shared unique career paths of a few NOAA leaders and spoke about the importance of opportunities like those afforded by EPP/MSI and Hollings undergraduate scholarships for any career. “The education and experiences that you’re receiving through these programs are going to give you extraordinary opportunities wherever you want to take your careers,” said Dr. Spinrad. During orientation, scholars also learned about the role each of NOAA’s line offices play in executing NOAA’s mission, student and early career opportunities in each line office, and what to expect in the next two years as a NOAA scholar.

The education and experiences that you’re receiving through these programs are going to give you extraordinary opportunities wherever you want to take your careers.

Dr. Rick Spinrad, NOAA Administrator

At the start of orientation, the scholars expressed their excitement about being a NOAA scholar. While a NOAA internship itself is a highlight for many scholars, they also look forward to growing their professional networks, gaining confidence as researchers and other professionals, learning specific techniques, honing their presentation skills, and connecting with peers who share their enthusiasm for science and stewardship.

Samuel, a Hollings Scholar, swims in snorkeling gear near to the water's surface against a background of rock and corals. The leg of a second snorkeler can be seen as the person swims out of the shot. — Samuel Koeck snorkels in Kāneʻohe Bay to collect collector urchins (Tripneustes gratilla) for his 2021 Hollings summer internship with He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve. (Courtesy of Sam Koeck)
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Though the students have a lot to gain from their scholarships, Office of Education Deputy Director Christos Michalopoulos concluded orientation by reminding the scholars that they will have a lasting impact on NOAA as well. “I’m confident that you will have a real, significant, and positive impact during your time at NOAA,” said Christos.

The scholarship application period for the class of 2023 opens on September 1, 2022, and will close on January 31, 2023.

Scholarship recipients

EPP/MSI undergraduate scholars

state	name	university
CA	Ingrid Martinson	California State University, Monterey Bay
CA	Tatyana Villela	California State University, Monterey Bay
CA	Martin Gonzalez	University of California, Santa Cruz
FL	Alison Novara	Nova Southeastern University
FL	Courtney White	Nova Southeastern University
FL	Kiah Matthews	Nova Southeastern University
GA	Alexandria Tennant	Savannah State University
HI	Michaela Wong	University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
HI	Spencer Sakuma	University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
NC	Hailey Poole	North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
NC	Richarde Graham II	North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
TX	Christian Schnell	University of the Incarnate Word

2022-2024 EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program profiles.

Ernest F. Hollings undergraduate scholars

state	name	university
AK	Hope Calogero	Alaska Pacific University
AK	Kellianne Kincannon	University of Alaska Southeast
AL	Anika Cho	The University of Alabama
AL	Kittson Hamill	The University of Alabama
AZ	Dylan Girone	University of Arizona
CA	Megan Robertson	California Institute of Technology
CA	Roxanne Mina	California Maritime Academy
CA	Jad Aljersh	California State University, Northridge
CA	Lacy Smith	California State University, Monterey Bay
CA	William Yik	Harvey Mudd College
CA	Ryan Ursíny	San Diego State University
CA	Kanoe Aiu	Stanford University
CA	Britney Wu	University of California, Berkeley
CA	Hassan Shaikh	University of California, Irvine
CA	Allison Yan	University of California, Los Angeles
CA	Hannah Hunter	University of California, Los Angeles
CA	Tatum Delaney	University of California, Los Angeles
CA	Maxwell Lyons	University of California, San Diego
CA	Cameron Penn	University of California, Santa Barbara
CA	Isabella Garfield	University of California, Santa Cruz
CA	Justine Mcouat	University of California, Santa Cruz
CO	Emmelia Ashton	Colorado School of Mines
CT	Devan Barnum	University of Connecticut
CT	Grace Cajski	Yale University
CT	Immanuel Bissell	Yale University
DC	Nyeema Caldwell	Howard University
DC	Ashley Hocking	The American University
DC	Trevaughn Ellis	The American University
FL	Gracelyn Ham	Eckerd College
FL	Madelynne Reifsteck	Eckerd College
FL	Makayla Neldner	Eckerd College
FL	Ethan Graham	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
FL	Kevin Rodriguez	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
FL	Hanna McDaniel	Florida State University
FL	Diego Rivera	University of Florida
FL	Meredith Anderson	University of Florida
FL	Alexandra Redford	University of Miami
FL	Brooke Weiser	University of Miami
FL	Laura Jones	University of Miami
FL	Mathew Birtman	University of Miami
FL	Nicholas Forcone	University of Miami
FL	Abigail Reed	University of South Florida
FL	Danya Awshah	University of South Florida
GA	Nicholas Chang	Emory University
GA	Kelly Neighbour	University of Georgia
GA	Max White	University of Georgia
GA	Tereza Mrazek	University of Georgia
HI	Abigail Lewine	University of Hawaii at Hilo
HI	Quintin Allen	University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
HI	Akili Ligons	University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
HI	Mariko Quinn	University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
HI	Sonja Giardina	University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
IA	Sayre Satterwhite	University of Iowa
IL	Gabriella Ballestas	Triton College
IL	Jared Stickney	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
IN	Clayton Glasgow	University of Notre Dame
IN	Anna Crumbacher	Valparaiso University
KY	Adjete Tekoe	Western Kentucky University
LA	Ria Salway	Louisiana State University
MA	Seraina Rioult-Pedotti	Bristol Community College
MA	Maria Geogdzhayeva	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MA	Lorelei Ing	Smith College
MA	Austin Rebello	Worcester Polytechnic Institute
MD	Tochi Iwuji	Coppin State College
MD	Alana Ginsburg	University of Maryland, College Park
MD	Courtney Deloatch-Hill	University of Maryland, College Park
MD	Daniel Oberholtzer	University of Maryland, College Park
MD	Jason Manzon	University of Maryland, College Park
MD	Jonah Pereyra	University of Maryland, College Park
MD	Maguire Ballard	University of Maryland, College Park
ME	Sophia Chivers	College of the Atlantic
MI	Cassidy Beach	University of Michigan
MN	Gweneth Lau	University of Minnesota Duluth
MN	Manashree Padiyath	University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
NC	Emily Nagamoto	Duke University
NC	Jessica Lipschultz	Duke University
NC	Dylan Major	University of North Carolina at Asheville
NC	Caitlin O'Brien	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NC	Emma Rudy Srebnik	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NC	Diandre' Richie	University of North Carolina at Wilmington
NH	Lauren McDowell	University of New Hampshire
NJ	David Ban	Princeton University
NY	Eojin Lee	Columbia University
NY	Kate Laboda	Fordham University
NY	Christopher Gilberti	State University of New York at Albany
NY	Emma Liptrap	Syracuse University
OH	Nick Beltramini	Oberlin College
OH	Ricarda Hill	Oberlin College
OH	Shira Presberg	Oberlin College
OH	Ashlee Ziegler	Ohio University
OK	Savannah Southward	University of Oklahoma
PA	Isabel Thornberry	Haverford College
PA	Matthew Teare	Millersville University of Pennsylvania
PA	Michael Zettlemoyer	Millersville University of Pennsylvania
PA	Christian Spallone	Penn State University Park
PA	Maxwell Katsouros	Penn State University Park
PA	Jonathan Tran	University of Pennsylvania
PA	Noah French	University of Pittsburgh
RI	Lorenzo Davidson	Brown University
RI	Alexandra Sinno	University of Rhode Island
RI	Ellie Madigan	University of Rhode Island
RI	Kara James	University of Rhode Island
RI	Maricarmen Serna	University of Rhode Island
RI	Matthew Brander	University of Rhode Island
RI	Molly Halla	University of Rhode Island
RI	Taya Clements	University of Rhode Island
RI	Zoe Scipioni	University of Rhode Island
SC	Haley Durbin	University of South Carolina
SC	Jasmine Witt	University of South Carolina
SC	Sarah Elliott	University of South Carolina
SC	Sydney Staines	University of South Carolina
SC	Weston Watts	University of South Carolina
TX	Christian Pryor	Texas A&M University at Galveston
TX	Austin Willson	Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
TX	Abigail Fritz	University of Dallas
VA	Derek Sprincis	University of Virginia
VA	Isabella Dressel	University of Virginia
VA	Madeline Kronebusch	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
VT	Spencer Welsh	Middlebury College
WA	Willow Jackson	Bellevue Community College
WA	Isaac Olson	University of Washington
WA	Jonathan Kwong	University of Washington
WA	Leighna Sugimoto	University of Washington
WA	Madeline Hansen	University of Washington
WA	Nicole Reynolds	University of Washington
WA	Sarah Hensley	University of Washington
WI	Eleanor Meng	Lawrence University

About the scholarship programs

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 each 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 a declared 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

1315 East West Hwy SSMC 3 / Rm 10734

Silver Spring, MD 20910

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