At the AEHS Foundation, we're on a mission to ignite the potential of tomorrow's leaders in environmental and health sciences. Our three unique scholarships give recognition and financial support for students' education, encouraging them to pursue careers that contribute to environmental health. These scholarships embody the essence of our founder Paul Kostecki's vision, underlining his goal of supporting and empowering the next generation of professionals dedicated to environmental health and sciences.
Our goal? To raise $10,000 for the AEHS Foundation's scholarship fund by the end of 2025. But we can't do this alone. We're calling on our incredible AEHS community to help us spread the word. Your donations play a crucial role in upholding these scholarships, which AEHS has proudly maintained for over 20 years. Your support directly impacts the educational journeys of deserving students, helping them to achieve their educational potential. Take a look at last year's winners below to see the difference your contribution can make.
Ready to make a difference? Click "Donate Here" and help us shape a brighter future. No amount is too small, and every donation, regardless of size, will make a meaningful impact.
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Last Year's Winners
Dr. Charlena M. Seymour Scholarship
Nannette Beckley - $1,000
Nannette is pursuing a Master of Public Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. She is studying epidemiology and working toward a certificate in Public Health and Humanitarian Action. After earning her degree, Nannette would like to pursue a career addressing maternal health outcomes among women of color. She hopes to achieve healthcare equity through education and the delivery of research. She also plans to advocate for underserved communities by educating women and their families while bringing greater attention to their struggles.
Dr. David F. Ludwig Memorial Student Travel Scholarship
Namal Abeysooriya - $1,000
Namal is a PhD student in Environmental Science with a specialization in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology. Namal used his scholarship to travel to and present at AEHS Foundation's 2025 East Coast Conference. His research focuses on analytical chemistry, ecotoxicology, and nanotechnology. His diverse international background has shaped his multidisciplinary approach to environmental issues and strengthened his ability to collaborate across cultures and scientific disciplines.
Namal is currently based in the United States, where his doctoral research investigates microplastic and organic pollutant interactions from both analytical chemistry and toxicology perspectives, using chemical and biological tools. He also has teaching experience at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and enjoys mentoring early-career researchers.
His goal is to contribute to science-based environmental policy and sustainable pollution management.
Dr. Michael E. Miller Student Competition Scholarship
Phoenix Susak - $1,000
Phoenix is a second-year MS/PhD student in the Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences Department at UMass Amherst. As a member of the Sediment and Coastal Dynamics Laboratory, his research broadly focuses on salt marsh systems and aims to elucidate trends in marsh geomorphology. By examining marsh history through sediment core records, present-day conditions using remote sensing and surface sampling, and projecting future outlooks, Phoenix strives to provide collaborators with actionable science to support their conservation and remediation efforts.
These collaborative efforts are reinforced through his involvement with the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, the NSF Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Science, the Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network, and the Cousins River Marsh Collaborative.