2021 Scholarship Awards

The EPOC Environmental Scholarship Fund was established in 1998 to assist qualified applicants 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 students applying for a scholarship this year. At recent meetings of the EPOC Scholarship Fund Committee, scholarship applicants were reviewed and voted on. We extend our congratulations to the following award winners:

Samantha Dow

Samantha (Sam) is a resident of Plainville and is a PhD candidate in Geoscience at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Sam obtained her undergraduate degree from UConn in 2014 and then her Masters degree at Boston College. She received a strong recommendation from her major advisor at UConn who stated, “From all of my interactions with Sam, I am comfortable saying that she displays all the attributes of young researcher poised for success.” In her application essay, Sam states, “Studying geology led me down a research-oriented path in geomorphology, focusing on human-landscape interactions in New England. I see myself pursuing a career in the private sector of the environmental industry in Connecticut. Overall, I am passionate about fluvial environments, and I envision being able to draw upon these research experiences, while applying the field, analytical, and GIS skills I’ve learned to a career focused on solving problems in the stream restoration industry throughout New England.”

Makayla Iarrapino

Makayla is a resident of Wolcott, MA and is entering her senior year pursing an Environmental Engineering degree at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. One of Makayla’s professors writes, “I have known Makayla in my course of Engineering Economics, where she maintains an outstanding score in the assignments provided so far. This course requires a high level of abstraction to solve a wide range of micro-economic problems. Makayla communicates with professors and maintains an enthusiastic attitude towards learning despite the obstacles that COVID-19 and virtual learning cause.” In her essay, Makayla states, “My knowledge in hydrology, climatology, ecology, and other classes taken at UConn will allow me to be well-spoken and fluent when discussing solutions to environmental problems. An area of study that is particularly fascinating to me is anaerobic digestion. There is a vast potential in the amount of emissions that can be reduced by using food waste to produce energy.”

Sara Tobin

Sara is a resident of Goshen entering her senior year at Connecticut Central State University (CCSU), and is pursuing a degree in Biology. Sara worked for CT DEEP last June-November as a seasonal resource assistant. Sara writes in her application, “I'm going to be graduating with a bachelor of science in Biology in the Spring of 2022. After completing my bachelor’s, I plan on getting my master's in either wildlife biology or natural resources. I hope to have a long meaningful career in the natural sciences field.”

Dillon Larkin

Dillon is a resident of Newtown and is entering his junior year at St. Lawrence University, pursuing an Environmental Engineering degree. Dillon received a strong recommendation from his chemistry professor who stated, “Dillon is an extraordinary student, who has distinguished himself intellectually, showing superior maturity, discipline, and motivation. I have no doubt that he will excel in the fields of chemical and environmental engineering, and will reflect well upon this scholarship, if he receives it.”

Caitlin Jenkins

Caitlin is a resident of Clinton and is entering her senior year as a Civil Engineering major at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. She is currently interning at a CT based environmental consulting firm. Caitlin is also an undergraduate research assistant, working with Dr. Marisa Chrysochoou at UConn on the Thermodynamic Approach to Chemical Soil Stabilization project, assisting in data gathering and data input. Caitlin states that “As a whole I am interested in working with soil and would love to work in soil remediation projects on brownfield sites.”

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. For further information, please visit our Scholarship webpage.