EPA Awards Student Fellowships in 25 States and Puerto Rico to Support the Next Generation of Environmental Scientists

(US Environmental Protection Agency) Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 34 fellowships for undergraduate students in 25 states and Puerto Rico to pursue environmental science and related fields of study at universities and colleges across the nation, helping to inspire the next generation of environmental scientists and engineers. The awards, part of EPA’s Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) fellowship program, provide students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with agency scientists.

“These students’ ambitious and innovative ideas will help create a more sustainable future,” said Lek Kadeli, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development. “EPA is investing in the next generation of environmental scientists and engineers whose research will help achieve our mission of protecting human health and the environment.”

Previous fellows have been recognized as leaders and educators in environmental health and science. More than 362 fellows have completed EPA’s program and have employed their knowledge and expertise in the workplace. Examples include:

· Evan Bredeweg, a 2006 GRO Fellow, elaborated on his time in the program saying, “The GRO fellowship has definitely helped me pursue my goals. It provided a starting block for me to begin my academic career and helped open doors to further opportunities.”

· Sacoby Wilson, a 1996 GRO fellow, is now an assistant professor with the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH) and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland-College Park;

· Cynthia Williams, a 2000 GRO fellow, is a systems engineer at the Missile Defense Agency.
The students selected for fellowships are undergraduates entering their junior year. The fellowship provides up to $20,700 a year of academic support that includes both stipend and tuition support as well as $8,600 for an internship during the summer for a combined total of up to $50,000 over the life of the fellowship.

For more than 30 years, EPA’s GRO Fellowship has been providing students in environmental science related fields the tools to succeed not only in their undergraduate studies and internship, but also in their future careers. The GRO program gives institutions the opportunity to grow and create a culture of excellence through their students.

The 2014 fellowships have been awarded to students at the following universities:

· University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Ala.
· Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.
· University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.
· Claremont Mckenna College, Claremont, Calif.
· University of San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
· University of Denver, Denver, Colo.
· University of New Haven, West Haven, Conn.
· Delaware State University, Dover, Del.
· Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.
· University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii
· Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
· Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa
· Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, La.
· Smith College, Northampton, Mass.
· Stonehill College, North Easton, Mass.
· Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.
· Salisbury University, Salisbury, Md.
· Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
· Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.
· Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, N.C.
· University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H.
· City College of New York, New York, N.Y.
· Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
· Portland State University, Portland, Ore.
· Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.
· Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa.
· University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
· Dakota State University, Madison, S.D.
· Baylor University, Waco, Texas
· University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
· Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Va.
· University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wis.
· University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, Green Bay, Wis.
The solicitation for the next round of GRO fellowships is now open for applications.

For more information on the awarded GRO Fellows: http://epa.gov/ncer/14GROfellows
For more information about applying for the next round of GRO fellowships:http://epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2015/2015_gro_undergrad.html
For information about the GRO Fellowship Program: http://epa.gov/ncer/fellow/
For more information on fellowships at EPA: http://epa.gov/ncer/fellow/gro-faq.pdf