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Elmira College Student Receives NOAA’s Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship

Jessica Yesensky '26, a Biochemistry and Environmental Science major, received the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The prestigious scholarship is awarded to 120+ undergraduate students annually from over 350 colleges and universities. It provides students with academic assistance awards up to $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer, including a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home.

Yesensky will complete her internship in the summer of 2025 but hasn’t received any additional details about where it will take place or who she will be working with.

According to the NOAA website, the internship provides scholars with hands-on, practical experience in “NOAA-related science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities.”

“I'm excited about the opportunities this internship will create for me,” shared Yesensky. “I’m looking forward to meeting my fellow interns and working with our mentors. I'm grateful to have been selected and to everyone who supported me during the application process.”

The scholarship also provides funds for the scholars to attend a NOAA Scholarship Program orientation and annual Science & Education Symposium, where students present their research.

Among the scholarship program goals is a desire to increase training in oceanic and atmospheric science and foster multidisciplinary training.

Yesensky, now in her second year at EC, was invited to present her first-year research in San Salvador, The Bahamas, at the 2023 Gerace Research Centre Conference, alongside her professors, graduate students from other universities, and industry professionals. She was the youngest presenter at the conference. Her work focused on the erosion vulnerability of San Salvador, which is based on the work Dr. Trevor Browning, EC Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, is conducting to index the erosion vulnerability of tropical islands.

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