EIGHT ECKERD COLLEGE STUDENTS TOP THE 2007 LIST OF NOAA HOLLINGS SCHOLARS

August 2007

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded 8 Eckerd College students the 2007 Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship: Caroline Anotlik (Biology), Jason Droman (Marine Science), Emma Hiolski (Marine Science; Biochemistry), Kristen Jabanoski (Marine Science), Graham Johnston (Marine Science), Kassandra Smith (Marine Science), Caroline Storer (Marine Science), and Brittany Wright (Chemistry & Environmental Studies).  In 2006, five Eckerd College students were awarded the 2006 Hollings Scholarship. They were: Kelli Hoover (Marine Science), Courtney Nosach (Marine Science), Kimberly Schmidt (Marine Science), Daniel Widener (Marine Science), and Andrew Stoffa (Environmental Studies &Political Science). The Hollings Scholarship will provide each student with an $8,000 scholarship for the junior year, an $8,000 scholarship for the senior year, a fully paid 10-week internship at a NOAA agency during the summer between the junior and senior year, round-trip travel to the internship site, and travel expenses to the Hollings conference in Silver Spring, Maryland.  Since its inception in 2005, 17 Eckerd College students have been named Hollings Scholars - more than any other college or university - topping Cornell University (12), University of Alabama (11) and Penn State University (11).  This is an outstanding honor for these students and an incredible record for Eckerd College.

For application materials, and more information on the program and eligibility requirements, contact the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings scholarship program.

MARINE SCIENCE STUDENTS OF THE YEAR

May 2007

Every spring, the Eckerd College Marine Science faculty select 1-2 graduating seniors that have demonstrated academic excellence or service to the major.  In 2007, Rebecca R. Helm was awarded the MARINE SCIENCE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD.  Not only was Ms. Helm an outstanding student, but she participated in numerous research projects with faculty from Eckerd College, University of Washington, and Harvard University.  She is currently a Fullbright Scholar in South Africa conducting research on jellyfish biology.  In 2006, Lauren Yeager was awarded the MARINE SCIENCE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD.  Ms. Yeager graduated with a double major in Marine Science and Spanish with a GPA of 4.0. Her senior thesis research project: "Habitat Utilization by Juvenile Reef Fishes in Manzanillo, Costa Rica" was presented at the 26^th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the Florida Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in Ocala, FL February, 2006.  Stephanie Sunderman was awarded the CONTRIBUTION TO THE MAJOR AWARD in 2006.  Ms. Sunderman was president of the Earth Society, was instrumental in the college's recycling program, and played a pivotal role in restoring and planting native plants. In addition to the college-wide activities, Stephanie provided invaluable help with numerous marine science courses as a teaching assistant. Her abilities in the laboratory and the classroom are reflected in her superb GPA of 3.9.