Eleven students were selected to receive scholarship funds and will be invited to participate in Aquarium projects and events through the program, now in its second year

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., announced its 2022 cohort of African American Scholars. The award recipients were announced during the Aquarium’s annual African American Festival in a ceremony that was streamed live online in late February.

“The scholar program is so much more than just financial support. It is also the ability to be more inclusive, build community, and allow the scholars the means to get involved with our institution, make career-related contacts, and create life-long relationships with other scholars over the years,” said Anthony Brown, chief financial officer at the Aquarium of the Pacific and scholar program committee lead.

Applications were submitted by students who demonstrated a commitment to studies related to careers in the aquarium field, including ocean education, animal husbandry, water quality, building maintenance or facilities, microbiology, and business management. Award recipients were selected by a committee including Aquarium staff members and members of the community. Each of the recipients will receive $10,000 and will also be invited to the Aquarium to participate in conservation projects, meetings, and other activities.

This program is possible thanks to funding from individuals and corporate supporters, including Aquarium of the Pacific Board members and staff members, The Ahmanson Foundation, The Boeing Company, and Poms & Associates. The public is also invited to support the Aquarium’s African American Scholar program. To make a donation, you can visit pacific.to/africanamericanscholarfund.

Recipients of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s 2022 African American Scholar Funds:

Moriah Byrd is a graduate student in the University of California, Los Angeles’ Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences PhD program researching DNA tools to measure the biodiversity of an environment. In 2021 Byrd earned a bachelor’s degree in marine science with a minor in applied math from Savannah State University.

 

Jaylen Citizen is a second-year student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marine biology at San Diego State University. Citizen plans to attend veterinary school for a career in an aquarium or rehabilitation setting.

 

Amanda Frank is a third-year student at California State University, San Marcos, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in ecology and a minor in sustainability.

 

Jacqueline Rajerison earned a bachelor’s degree in marine and coastal science from University of California, Davis. As an undergraduate student, Rajerison conducted research on the intertidal zone and served as a student recruiter and ambassador at Bodega Marine Laboratory.

 

Daniel Rankins earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from University of California, Irvine, and is now a first-year PhD student there studying the effects of rising water temperatures on red abalone.

 

Jessica Smith is an undergraduate student at San Jose State University with a major in ecology and evolution and a minor in chemistry. Smith is interested in the therapeutic and medicinal potential of plants and plans to pursue a PhD in molecular and environmental plant sciences. Smith is currently part of the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement program for undergraduate students in biomedical sciences.

 

Nefertiti Smith Christman is a third-year PhD student in the ecology and evolutionary biology department at the University of California, Irvine, studying the impact of stressors, including sediment, on zebrafish. Christman has a bachelor’s degree in marine and environmental science from Hampton University.

 

Nicole Thompson is a junior in the animal science program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Thompson is an aspiring Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and volunteers at an animal hospital.  

 

Daran Towns is a third-year student of marine science at California State University, Monterey Bay. Towns is also a volunteer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on the guide team and a new SCUBA diver with an open water dive certification.

 

Samuel Walkes is a PhD student in ecology and evolutionary biology at University of California, Davis. Walkes earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies from Bowdoin College and previously worked as an educator at the New England Aquarium.

 

Paloma Wood-Assemian is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Howard University. Wood-Assemian previously interned as a data collector at the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, Washington.

 

African American Scholar Program Committee Members:

• Ryan Ashton, vice president of development, Aquarium of the Pacific
• Anthony Brown, CFO, Aquarium of the Pacific
• Sean Devereaux, executive director, Leadership Long Beach
• Keasha Dumas Heath, executive director, LA Afro American Art Museum
• Alyssa Pacaut, senior manager of membership, Aquarium of the Pacific
• Naomi Rainey, committee advisor/president, Long Beach NAACP
• Steve Young, principal, Keesal, Young, and Logan and Aquarium board director

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities, Pacific Visions, Shark Lagoon, and the June Keyes Penguin Habitat. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, including First Wednesdays featuring guest speakers.

Photos courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific

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