Laura Gombar, recipient of the More Like Jimmy 2020 scholarship

The More Like Jimmy Scholarship awarded a total of $17,000 to seven applicants currently attending the University of Guam. Each of the awardees is planning on a career in marine biology or environmental science. 

“The scholarship received so many qualified candidates that it was not possible to narrow the list to less than the seven recipients,” said Linda Tatreau, the scholarship administrator and mother of Jimmy Hall, who suffered a fatal accident during an adventure in the Arctic.

The selection committee requested more funds from the benefactor to accommodate the demand.

“It was a hard thing to ask, but after reading the qualifications of the seven, our benefactor was compelled to grant our request,” Tatreau said. “The only way we could have narrowed the final seven would have been to draw the names out of a hat.” 

Aspiring marine biologists attended the More Like Jimmy Scholarship awards presentation. Practicing for their future scholarship acceptance are Giada Biggs, Ashley Biggs and Sara Atienza. Giada and Ashley are the daughters of Dr. Laura Biggs and Dr. Jason Biggs, both professors at the University of Guam. For more information on the annual scholarship visit sharkallies.org.

Ahmyia Cacapit

“To me, sharks serve as a symbol of hope and recovery because they can be an indicator of a healthy reef system,” Ahmyia Cacapit, a University of Guam senior, wrote in her application. “More people need to advocate for them with regards to pollution (e.g. from fishing lines and other plastic debris) and overfishing to protect Guam’s local shark populations.”

Ami Vice

Ami Vice, a freshman at the University of Guam majoring in integrative biology, graduated from Tiyan High School in June ranking seventh in her class.

“The best thing an individual can do for their community is to care,” Vice wrote in her application. “My job as a resident of Guam is to lead by example, and show others the effects of caring for my surroundings, whether it be people, animals, or the environment.”

Anela Duenas

Anela Duenas

Anela Duenas graduated from Marianas High School on Saipan,  where she was an active volunteer for Project Healthy Oceans and People Empowerment. 

“My duties include engaging sixth-grade students from the CNMI Public School System as an advocate for marine conservation and ocean protection,” Duenas wrote in her application. “I facilitate project activities between students and ocean elders, from the Friends of the Mariana Trench, contribute and implement outreach and educational activities, and participate in project development.”

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Gabriella Prelosky

University of Guam junior Gabriella Prelosky has received the scholarship three years in a row.

During her time at George Washington High School, she served as a member of Marine Mania for four years before becoming president in her senior year. In college, she returned to Marine Mania as a chaperone and mentor. 

Laura Caser

Laura Caser, a homeschool graduate and sophomore at the University of Guam, started her environmental efforts in grade school when she and her family joined Haggan Watch, a nonprofit that monitors sea turtles.

In high school, Caser started volunteering with the National Park Service and participated in coral monitoring.

“I firmly believe that the two most imposing threats to the natural environment are ignorance and apathy,” Caser wrote in her application. “I also believe that the best solutions to these problems are exposure and education.” 

Laura Gombar

Laura Gombar, a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School, is now a senior at the University of Guam majoring in biology with a focus on environmental aspects. 

She has received fellowships through the National Science Foundation INCLUDES Program, which enhances leadership in STEM innovations, and the University of Guam EPSCoR Research Experience, a STEM education hub. 

“One major project that I plan to work on during this semester is creating an online database to provide current and incoming local STEM majors with free textbook PDFs, helpful links, research and internship opportunities, and volunteer opportunities both on and off island,” Gombar wrote in her application. 

Nikko Galanto

Nikko Galanto, majoring in biology, has participated in marine research programs. As a college junior, Galanto researched the effects of heat stress on coral larvae, and this summer, tracked humpback whale migration patterns.

“In the future, I hope to become a marine biologist and activist while working towards educating people about marine life and how we can better protect it,” Galanto wrote in the application.

Since its inception in 2018, the scholarship has awarded $34,000 to students from Guam and other islands of Micronesia.

This article originally appeared on Pacific Daily News: Seven students awarded marine biology or environmental science scholarship

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