Maine Sea Grant Announces 2021 Undergraduate Scholars in Marine Science

Maine Sea Grant is pleased to announce 12 students from Maine-based colleges and universities have received a 2021 Maine Sea Grant Undergraduate Scholarship in Marine Sciences.

In addition to supporting tuition or other academic expenses, the scholarship offers opportunities for academic and professional development. Scholarship recipients will join a statewide network of undergraduate scholars doing exemplary academic work on marine and coastal issues. Additionally, awardees will have access to Sea Grant-sponsored workshops, conferences, and other events related to marine and coastal science, policy, resource management, community outreach, and education.

“Our 2021 undergraduate scholarship recipients provide a snapshot of the talent, skill, and potential we are seeing across the state,” said Maine Sea Grant Assistant Director of Research Jessica Jansujwicz. “We hope the scholarships help cultivate the kinds of hands-on learning experiences and career development opportunities that will set these students up for success in whichever field they pursue.”

This award is made possible through a matching grant program with each awardee’s home institution.
Recipients of the 2021 scholarship are from the University of Maine, University of New England, College of the Atlantic, the Maine Maritime Academy, and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine.

Madison (Madi) Bailey, University of Maine
A Maine Sea Grant scholarship will help support Madi’s academic and research goals by providing financial assistance that will help her devote more time to her studies in order to keep a high GPA and enroll in a master’s program in marine science.

Montana Benning, University of Maine
This opportunity will greatly assist Montana’s future academic goals, as well as provide her with experiences that would be difficult to obtain elsewhere.

David Carter, University of Maine
This scholarship will help David continue his studies and further his education in marine science, as well as offer new opportunities to expand his knowledge and make connections within the marine science community.

Phoebe Churney, Maine Maritime Academy
Phoebe will use this scholarship to support her AAUS scuba diving certification and senior research preparation.

Isabel (Izzy) Descoteaux, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Izzy will be using this grant to continue working as a research assistant measuring peptides and amino acids in lobster eggs.

Jessica Kemp, University of New England
The scholarship will allow Jessica to continue her sustainable aquaculture project determining whether mealworms are a suitable replacement for fishmeal in tilapia feeds to continue past the summer and throughout Kemp’s senior year.

Haley Kent, Maine Maritime Academy
This scholarship will allow Haley to further her research leading up to an independent senior research project and allow her to volunteer next summer on a Coast Guard cutter or NOAA research vessel.

Antonia Kotliarov, University of Maine
Antonia will use the Sea Grant Scholarship to fund educational opportunities and a study away experience. She hopes that the Sea Grant support will allow her to pursue her future goals of scientific diving and study in cold water marine systems.

Benjamin LaFreniere, University of New England
Ben will use this scholarship to help fund his investigation of the age and growth of white hake in the Gulf of Maine. The data he collects this year will help inform his master’s thesis in the future.

Sneha Suresh, College of the Atlantic
The scholarship will help fund Sneha’s research project focusing on the common loon. Sneha will necropsy loon cadavers, collect tissue samples, and analyze those samples for microplastics. She will also work with Somes-Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary to monitor loon behavior on Mt. Desert Island lakes.

Bailey Tausen, College of the Atlantic
Beyond the workshops and opportunities the Maine Sea Grant provides, this scholarship will support Bailey’s planktonic health and abundance survey around Mount Desert Rock in the Gulf of Maine.

Brian Will, University of New England
Brian is working in the University of New England clownfish research lab, learning valuable culturing techniques. This opportunity will help him continue to develop and grow his passion for marine science.