2013 - 2014 MASNA Student Scholarships Awarded at MACNA 2013

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Now in its sixth year, the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America’s (MASNA) Student Scholarship program has provided $24,000 in funding for undergraduate and graduate college students to pursue their degrees in a marine science discipline. From just a handful of applicants a few years ago, to over 190 applications in the 2013 – 2014 season, the MASNA Student Scholarships have grown to be a competitive, prestigious award.

Applications for the awards are judged based on the applicant’s enrollment in a marine science undergraduate / graduate degree, a G.P.A. of 2.5 or greater, and their proven contributions and demonstrated commitment to the marine aquarium hobby.

This year’s scholarship selection committee consisted of Kevin Erickson, MASNA Vice President, Adam Blundell, MASNA Director at Large, Amanda Cox, MASNA Director of Membership, Kevin Kohen, Director of LiveAquaria.com, Patrick Clasen, Director of Finance at EcoTech Marine, Doug Hill, President and Chief Operating Officer of Seachem, Dr. Sanjay Joshi, Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Penn State University, Dr. Matt Wittenrich, Marine Biologist, University of Florida's Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Martin Moe, Marine Biologist, and Tal Sweet, Director of the Marine Breeding Initiative.

This year, with sponsorships from Doctors Foster and Smith LiveAquaria.com, EcoTech Marine, and Seachem, MASNA was able to award both a $4,000 undergraduate student scholarship and a $4,000 graduate student scholarship, and provide all expense paid trips for both winners to MACNA 2013 in Hollywood, Florida.

It is with great pleasure that MASNA can announce this year’s MASNA Student Scholarship recipients.

The 2013-2014 MASNA Undergraduate Student Scholarship winner is Drew DeLorenzo. Drew is a full time Marine Science & Biochemistry undergraduate student at the University of South Carolina. Drew currently keeps a 125 gallon mixed reef aquarium, is the editor-in-chief of MarSci, the marine science journal at the University of South Carolina, and hopes to one day pursue research in coral genetics.

Undergraduate MASNA Scholarship Winner, Drew DeLorenzo, with his 125 gallon mixed reef aquarium.

The 2013-2014 MASNA Graduate Student Scholarship winner is Adeljean Ho. Adeljean is a full time Marine Biology Doctorate candidate at the Florida Institute of Technology. Adeljean’s research focuses on diet mediated coloration, specifically efficacy and physiology of achieving adequate carotenoid based coloration in anemonefishes, the culture and husbandry techniques of ornamental species, incidental captive hybridization and implications for conservation in seahorses, population genetics and evolution of marine/euryhaline ornamental and non-ornamental species. In the future, Adeljean hopes to develop a rigid 2 platform for open exchange between scientists and marine aquarium hobbyists, recognize the contribution of marine aquarium hobbyist work, and to attempt to dispel many fallacies that are circulated, with detriment, within the marine aquarium hobby as fact.

Graduate MASNA Scholarship Winner, Adeljean Ho, in Key Largo, FL, USA, collecting yellowhead jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons) for studying populations genetics of the species across the Caribbean.

Both recipients were in attendance at MACNA 2013 in Hollywood, Florida where they were presented with their $4,000 scholarships at the Saturday night conference banquet. Both Drew and Adeljean were able to meet with MACNA banquet keynote speaker, Richard Pyle after the banquet and presentations where they discussed their awards and posed for a picture.

MASNA, the MASNA Scholarship Committee, Doctors Foster and Smith LiveAquaria.com, EcoTech Marine, and Seachem would like to congratulate Drew and Adeljean on their awards. We are proud to name Drew and Adeljean the 2013 – 2014 MASNA Student Scholarship recipients, and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

MASNA would like to thank Doctors Foster and Smith LiveAquaria.com, Ecotech Marine, and Seachem. Without them, the two $4,000 MASNA Student Scholarships would not be possible.

The MASNA Student Scholarship winners with MACNA banquet keynote speaker Mr. Richard Pyle after the Saturday night MACNA banquet.

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