Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation Announces New Scholarship Award Winners

16 Nov Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation Announces New Scholarship Award Winners

Gig Harbor, WA--The Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation (KGASF) today announced that it has awarded aquaculture scholarships to four students—three representing US Tribes and one representing one of Canada’s First Nations.

The KGASF was established to honor the legacy of the late Kurt Grinnell, a Native American leader from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in Washington State, who saw aquaculture as a solution to Tribal food security. Toward that end, the KGASF provides financial assistance to Tribal and First Nations students who wish to pursue careers in aquaculture and natural resources.

The 2023 scholarship awardees include two first-time winners: Allison Carl of the Chugach Alaska Corporation and Native Village of Eyak, Alaska; and Brook Thompson of the Yurok and Karuk Tribes in Northern California. In addition, two previous winners have received scholarships to continue their studies: Alana Schofield of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Michigan; and Taylor Nichols of the Wahnapitae First Nation (WFN) in Ontario, Canada.

“We are immensely proud of these four scholars,” said KGASF Board Member and chair of the Scholarship Selection Committee, Jaiden Grinnell Bosick, one of Kurt’s two daughters. Bosick and her husband operate a commercial fishing business in Alaska.

“On behalf of the Kurt Grinnell family and the KGASF Scholarship Selection Committee, we congratulate this year’s winners,” she said. “We are confident that each of these winners will make a substantial and positive impact to Tribal and First Nation welfare through their contributions to aquaculture and natural resource science.”

Current KGASF scholarship winners represent a broad range of interests and geographic regions:

Allison Carl is pursuing an M.S. degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Alaksa, Anchorage. She has a strong interest and experience in marine resources including mariculture and currently works as a research scientist at the Chugach Regional Resources Commission. Ms. Carl, whose goals include “being involved in mariculture initiatives in the Chugach area,” has been appointed to be the Manager of the Chugach Biological Laboratory.

Brook Thompson is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Studies and Coastal Science and Policy at the University of California at Santa Cruz, where she is a recipient of a prestigious Ford Foundation Scholarship. She is not only knowledgeable about salmon biology and ecology, but also understands the importance of salmon to West Coast Tribes.

Alana Schofield is enrolled at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where she is pursuing a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Ms. Schofield has experience in Tribal Fisheries and is interested in learning about aquaculture and aquaponics, with the goal of “returning to her Tribal Community and using her knowledge to advance tribal sovereignty and improve and protect the natural environment.” Her long-term goals include earning a Ph.D. degree.

Taylor Nichols has experience in aquaculture via a pickerel micro-hatchery with the WFN and is currently pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Biology from Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. She is a graduate of Canada’s Dalhousie University.

“We believe that the scholarships made possible by the KGASF not only help these students financially, but each scholarship awardee has shown a very strong connection to their Tribal or First Nation heritage,” said Levana Mastrangelo, KGASF Board Vice-Chair and Scholarship Selection Committee member.

Mastrangelo, the Senior Reconciliation Advisor at Cermaq Canada, Ltd., belongs to the Ucluelet First Nation – Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government.

“In Canada, aquaculture plays a vital role in First Nation communities and is a path to self-determination and Reconciliation,” she said, adding that “aquaculture provides many jobs and economic opportunities, as well as creating healthy seafood products.”

Those who wish to support the education of future leaders in aquaculture and fisheries may donate to:

Contribute • Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation (kurtgrinnellscholarship.org)

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Media Contacts:

Levana Mastrangelo Levana.mastrangelo@cermaq.com

250-201-0565

Jeanne McKnight jmcknight@mcknightpr.com

206-963-6478