For the next four years, six University of the Virgin Islands students will receive scholarships of $10,000 each to study in the school’s Master of Marine Science program thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation.
The NSF’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics’ $275,900 four-year grant is designed to support scholarships for academically talented science students with financial need.
This year three first-year students and three second-year students will receive the scholarships.
“The grant means that currently enrolled students will not have to take out such large loans to attend graduate school,” said Teresa Turner, UVI professor of marine biology in a statement from UVI. “It reduces the financial burden on them and will allow them to focus on their course work, research and professional development. This funding will enable UVI to compete with other graduate programs for talented students and it will decrease the financial barriers that may prevent students from participating in the program.”
Currently, 21 students are enrolled in UVI’s Master of Marine Science program. Ten new students are accepted into the program each year. The same grant will also pay salaries for tutors and student memberships in professional associations.
Turner said the scholarships target Virgin Islanders in particular but other strong students can be supported also.
“The idea is to train a diverse group of environmental leaders to respond to the need for creative, well prepared managers and scientists to address Caribbean and global environmental crises,” she said.
