2014 Scholarship Awards

The EPOC Environmental Scholarship Fund was established in 1998 to assist Connecticut residents who are attending a college or university (in CT or out of state) and have declared majors pertinent to the environmental field.  The scholarships are awarded annually to junior, senior, and graduate level students (full or part-time) enrolled in accepted programs of study leading the student to become a Technical Environmental Professional in the State of Connecticut as defined by the CT DEEP, or a professional in a related service discipline who may render technical assistance to the Technical Environmental Professional. EPOC would like to express its thanks to all the Connecticut students applying for a scholarship this year. At a recent meeting of the EPOC Scholarship Fund Committee, this year’s scholarship winners were voted on and approved. The total amount of awards for this year was approximately $10,000. Congratulations to the following:

Celicia Boyden

Celicia is a resident of Moosup and is a senior at the University of Connecticut, majoring in Environmental Engineering. During her time at UConn, she also worked as a hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Geophysics. Celicia’s Environmental Engineering professor states, “I have been deeply impressed by the excellent leadership of Ms. Boyden for design teams, and good organization skills for class and research. She has discussed with me several times about her thoughts of career paths. She always expresses enthusiasm of applying her knowledge to solve real environment problems…”

Brianna Church

Brianna is a resident of Higganum and a junior at University of Connecticut, majoring in Environmental Engineering. Brianna was a member of a team of interns at the UConn Office of Environmental Policy (OEP). Her Environmental Engineering professor writes, “Over the past two years, I have also seen Brianna continue to excel in her studies, consistently performing at the top of her class, while working 10-12 hours a week this past year as an extremely reliable, diligent and productive OEP intern. What sets Brianna apart, even from the most motivated students, is her thirst for knowledge and willingness to seek new challenges.”

Johnathan Feldman

Johnathan is a resident of Windsor and is entering his senior year at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), majoring in Geology. Johnathan’s Geology professor states, “What sets Johnathan apart from other students is that his service to the Physics and Earth Sciences Department is unparalleled. This past year, Johnathan initiated an effort to bring a chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE), the Earth Sciences Honor Society, to CCSU. He is currently working on a project with Dr. Oyewumi to investigate arsenic contamination in the area of Lebanon, Connecticut.”

Larry Page

Larry is a resident of Northford and is a graduate student at the University of New Haven, pursing a master’s degree in Environmental Science. Larry also works full-time as an environmental consultant at a Connecticut based firm. Larry wrote in his essay, “…my continued studies, which include the pursuit of a Ph.D. in environmental science, will enable me to fulfill my desire to learn about natural processes and to contribute to environmentally sustainable progress.  This type of progress is becoming increasingly important as the population grows and the stresses on the planet’s natural resources rapidly increase.”

Sarah Vitale

Sarah is a resident of Manchester and is in her second year of her PhD Hydrology program at the University of Connecticut. Sarah’s graduate academic advisor states, “Sarah is eager to learn and shows a strong commitment to advancing her education in hydrogeology. In her first year as a Ph.D. student, she has taken initiative in the development and progression of her research. She is further developing a cost effective means of characterizing groundwater flow conditions in bedrock and overburden wells using dissolved oxygen as a tracer.Sarah has demonstrated the leadership and persistence necessary to follow through with challenging projects and build a successful career in the environmental field as a hydrogeologist."

The EPOC Scholarship Fund is financed through the support of EPOC programs, proceeds from golf tournaments, and direct contributions from individuals and companies. EPOC is a non-profit organization, and as such, contributions to the Scholarship Fund are tax deductible for most firms. Unlike many other organizations, 100% of your contributions go in the EPOC Scholarship Fund. A committee of volunteers who support its goals and ideals manages the fund. Anyone needing additional information about the Scholarship Fund or EPOC, please contact Seth Molofsky.