Aquarium Launches African American Scholar Program for its Third Year

August 25, 2022

August 25, 2022, Long Beach, Calif.—The Aquarium of the Pacific will be accepting applications for its African American Scholar Program starting September 9, 2022. Now in its third year, the program supports African American students pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields related to the work of the Aquarium. Through the financial award, inclusion in a growing community, and engagement with the Aquarium, the program seeks to lower the barriers for African American students in the fields of marine science.

As part of this program, recipients are invited to connect with each other and the Aquarium to explore their interests. Past recipients have been published in the Aquarium’s member magazine, engaged with the public at an “Ask a Scientist” booth during Family Science Night and community events, and met with Aquarium staff members to discuss education and conservation projects. At the annual African American Scholar Program fall symposium, the scholars and program alumni will gather to present their work, meet with various Aquarium departments, hear from guest panelists about careers in nonprofit, industry, and government sectors, and connect with high school students from the Long Beach Unified School District.

“The symposium was great! I am so appreciative to be a part of a network of such caring, kind, and brilliant individuals! Being in a room full of people who are all there to build you up is an incredible and very validating experience,” says Katherine Hannibal, who is a past recipient of the African American Scholar Program referring to last year’s symposium. The next symposium will be held November 2022. Applications for the 2023 African American Scholar Program are due by November 25, 2022. The announcement of the recipients will be made at the Aquarium’s twenty-first annual African American Festival on February 25, 2023. For program details and submission guidelines, you can visit pacific.to/africanamericanscholar.

This program is possible thanks to funding from individuals and corporate supporters. Major program supporters for this year include The Ahmanson Foundation, Lori Prince and Robert Hum, Poms & Associates, Kathie Eckert, and the Schulzman-Neri Foundation.

The public is also invited to support the Aquarium’s African American Scholar Program. For the third year in a row, an anonymous donor has pledged a matching gift of $10,000 to encourage others to support this program. To make a donation, please visit pacific.to/africanamericanscholarfund.