Laboratory Announces 2017 Keller Scholarship Winner

EAST BOOTHBAY, Maine – Bigelow Laboratory has awarded Sophia Hanscom of Norway, Maine, its 2017 Maureen D. Keller Undergraduate Scholarship. Each year, the Laboratory uses the scholarship to recognize and support a rising undergraduate student from Maine who intends to major in the biological or earth sciences. Winners are awarded a $1,000 scholarship to help cover college expenses.

“The Keller Scholarship supports aspiring scientists who exhibit remarkable performance in academics, extracurriculars, and leadership activities,” said Research Scientist Nicole Poulton, who helps oversee the program. “Sophia is a remarkable and passionate student who clearly exhibits all the traits we look for in a scholarship recipient.”

A recent graduate of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, Hanscom participated in Bigelow Laboratory’s 2016 Keller BLOOM Program – a weeklong, hands-on ocean science experience for high school juniors. She is a member of the National Honor Society with a strong track record as a participant in student government, art programs, and athletic teams. Hanscom plans to pursue a degree in marine biology at Hawaii Pacific University’s Residential Honors Program this fall.

The Keller Scholarship honors Dr. Maureen Keller, a former research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory. Keller’s research focused on marine phytoplankton, and she believed it was important to provide Maine students with the opportunity to learn about the marine environments that define so much of Maine’s economy, history, and culture.