Alumna pursuing Ph.D. earns NOAA scholarship

Andrea Kealoha (MS in Marine Science ’14) was one of two students selected for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship funded by NOAA. Kealoha is at Texas A&M University pursuing her doctorate in oceanography with a focus on coral reef health in response to ocean acidification.

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries received more than 200 applications for this scholarship. A panel of NOAA scientists reviewed and scored the applications, which were based on the individuals’ rankings, financial need, academic excellence, recommendations, research, and career goals.    

Subject to appropriations, the scholarship includes an annual stipend of $30,000 and up to $12,000 annually as an education allowance. Additionally, a recipient could see up to $10,000 to support a four to six week research collaboration at a NOAA facility.

Kealoha will conduct her research at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico.

While a master’s in marine science student at HPU, she participated in two research expeditions to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. See this video of one of the research cruises. 

In February 2014, Kealoha and HPU natural science faculty Chris Winn, Ph.D., and Sam Kahng, Ph.D., presented their research entitled “Carbon Systems within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Honolulu. Kealoha also presented this research in December 2013 at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.