Welcome to NERRA

The Lois Yoder-Swaim Memorial Scholarship provides funding for deserving students who agree to conduct a project in cooperation with the staff of a National Estuarine Research Reserve (reserve).

Lois Yoder-Swaim was a leader in the reserve community for many years. She was a long-time supporter of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and for three years served as president of the Friends of Rookery Bay. Through her connections to Rookery Bay Lois became involved in national issues and became a cherished friend and colleague to many people in the reserve community. Lois was a member of NERRA’s Friends and Foundations Network and a NERRA board member. Ms. Yoder-Swaim was an inspiring leader who fostered innovation in research, education, and volunteerism. NERRA and the Friends of Rookery Bay are proud to continue her legacy through this scholarship program.

The program provides students with a scholarship of a scholarship of anywhere from $750 to $1000 or more to assist in post-secondary education. Recipients must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program at an accredited public or private junior college, college, or university. First-year students are not eligible to apply.

Scholarships are paid directly to a student for use at his/her discretion for room, board, tuition, supplies, or equipment. A scholarship selection committee will choose the recipient(s). Preference will be given to students studying the environmental or natural sciences, public policy, environmental or natural resource economics, or science education.

Applicants were directed to develop a project in cooperation with staff from a reserve, and focus the project in the following areas:
    -social sciences and their link to the estuarine environment and improving human communities,
    -earth science education for K-12 students focused on the estuarine environment,
    -public policy and the estuarine environment,
    -estuarine ecology or physical oceanography, and
    -coastal hazards, climate change and tools to help with estuarine management.

Selected Scholarships for 2011/2012

Jon Miner's application was selected to complete a project at the Old Woman Creek Reserve in Ohio. In addition, Jessica Carlson's application was selected as a runner-up to complete a project at Lake Superior Reserve in Wisconsin.