Thank you for supporting the NAEP-SC Scholarship Program in such a BIG WAY!

On November 8, 2024, over 100 participants attended a Clay Shoot hosted by the SC Mitigation Association (SCMA) and NAEP-SC, where we enjoyed fellowship and unseasonably warm weather at the beautiful Hermitage Sporting Grounds in Camden, SC. As a result of the generosity of our sponsors and participants, the amount of scholarship money NAEP-SC awarded in 2025 TRIPLED! We are thrilled that a total of $12,000 in scholarships was awarded to six recipients representing three SC colleges!

Please join us in celebrating our 2025 scholarship recipients:

$2,000 Graduate Student Scholarships:

Abigail Kreuser is pursuing a PhD in Marine Science at the University of South Carolina and has served as VP and President for the Graduate Organization of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment. For her dissertation, Abby is building a series of models to explain habitat use, movement, and foraging success in the endangered North Atlantic right whale, with an anticipated graduation date of August 2026. Celebrated as the most capable programmer, with exceptional research and leadership skills, Abby was also identified as an emerging leader in the fields of environmental science and conservation.

Avery West will graduate from the College of Charleston (CofC) in May 2026 with an MS in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. Avery maintains a 4.0 GPA and is interested in a career as a GIS analyst. In her current role as a Geospatial Research Assistant on a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation-funded grant project, Avery is working directly with Beaufort County to develop strategies for mitigating flood risks in vulnerable coastal areas. Her CofC advisor noted that “her academic journey reflects both excellence and a clear dedication to the field of environmental science.”

Morgan Chaudry (picture shown on right) is pursuing a PhD from Clemson University in Plant and Environmental Science and serves as the Laboratory Manager and Graduate Research Assistant in the Whitmire Lab. Morgan’s research focuses on emerging contaminants-particularly microplastics-and their effects on ecosystem processes and the capacity of coastal stormwater ponds to reduce the transport of these pollutants to downstream aquatic habitats. Her PhD mentor indicates that “her diligence, analytical thinking, problem solving, and ambition set her apart” and will lead to a “career marked by dedication, innovation, and excellence.”

$2,000 Undergraduate Student Scholarships:

Jada Bollmeyer (picture shown below) will graduate in December 2025 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of South Carolina (Columbia). Jada maintains a 4.0 GPA and has been selected as the Green Certification Project Coordinator for USC’s Sustainable Carolina Leadership Program. She is an intern with the Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition and is working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant, simulating seismic waves of various Fe-X light elements to suggest the composition of Earth’s inner core. Beyond graduation, Jada hopes to use her environmental education to progress SC’s sustainability efforts, while uplifting marginalized communities. 

Marissa Canberg will receive a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Clemson University in 2026 and is consistently recognized as a President’s or Dean’s List scholar. Marissa serves as Treasurer for The Wildlife Society student chapter and is interested in field-based research, performing wild hog research/data collection in the Clemson Experimental Forest and completing a summer internship with SCDNR’s Office of Fisheries Management in Charleston. Beyond graduation in 2026, Marissa is seeking a career that allows her to support sustainable resource management and help protect the ecosystems that are so important to SC and beyond.

Matthew McDonald will graduate in May 2026 with a B.S. in Biology from the College of Charleston.  He is the Alliance for Planet Earth Club Leader, organizing monthly field trips focused on habitat restoration for over 300 students to the Stono Preserve.  He has also received a multitude of research grants and scholarships since 2022. Matthew has worked as a valued volunteer and hourly technician for SCDNR’s SC Oyster Recycling and Enhancement Program (SCORE). Future plans include graduate school and pursuit of a federal biologist position, with a goal to research and conserve reptiles and amphibians in the southeast.