Seven University of Rhode Island sophomores have been awarded the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the most prestigious scholarship awarded to undergraduates in marine sciences. .
Christopher Shea Apr 20, 2021
Mel Dyer (left) introduces Wareham resident/Gleason Family YMCA volunteer Jacqueline Webb, sons Jacob and Kyle, and fellow volunteer Tamsin Collum. Photo by: Christopher Shea
DARTMOUTH Wareham resident Jacqueline Webb has always tried to instill a sense of social responsibility in her family.
When the pandemic hit, her family like many around the country fell on hard times, but they didn’t let that get in the way of their dedication to service.
To get by, they utilized a number of programs offered at the Gleason Family YMCA.
And as soon as she and her family were able to give back, they did.
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
As a home-schooled student from kindergarten through grade 12 in the Boston, Dallas and Atlanta areas, Eman Khwaja felt empowered to invest in her education outside of traditional classrooms. Programs and volunteer work at zoos, aquariums, nature centers and other outdoor venues were key elements of her education, and they helped the Randolph woman decide to pursue a career studying marine biology and animal behavior.
“My goal has been to become a marine biologist since I was 5 years old,” said the University of Rhode Island graduate student, who completed high school two years early and earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Agnes Scott College in Georgia. “I discovered I was really interested in behavior, which is why I studied neuroscience, and now I’m applying that knowledge to the behavior of fishes.”