Oceantic Network awards three scholarships to graduating high school seniors pursuing a career in offshore wind
For Immediate Release: May 17, 2023
Media Contact: Luke Jeanfreau | [email protected] | 504-444-3766
BALTIMORE – The Oceantic Network today announced the three winners of its 2023 Rising Star: Offshore Wind Student Scholarship. Each year the Network’s scholarship program supports college-bound high school seniors who show significant academic achievement and a keen interest in pursuing a career in the offshore wind energy industry. The 2023 scholarship winners from New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Virginia represent future leaders of the growing U.S. offshore wind industry, with interests ranging from mechanical engineering to policy.
The Network launched the Rising Star: Offshore Wind Student Scholarship in 2022 with proceeds from the Network’s annual Ventus Gala as well as generous industry donations including sponsor Mainstream Renewable Power. Each scholarship winner is awarded $5,000 to use toward tuition fees. Several dozen applications were judged by leaders that represent the breadth of offshore wind industry: Jim Bennett, Senior Advisor at BOEM; Jay Borkland, Director of Ports and Supply Chain at Avangrid-Renewables; Tony Appleton, Director of Offshore Wind at Burns & McDonnell; Joe Tirone, Shareholder at Baker Donelson; Belton Zeigler, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP; Nat Spencer, Vice President of Service Delivery at PanGeo Subsea; Teaera Strum, President & CEO at Strum Contracting Co.; and Zachary Skelton, Business Development Manager, Renewables US at Seaway 7.
“The 2023 offshore wind scholarship recipients represent the confidence we have for the future of the offshore wind industry; they are full of passion, optimism, and tenacity,” said Oceantic Network President & CEO Liz Burdock. “This year, we received five times the number of applications as last year, demonstrating the growing and varied interest in a career within the offshore wind industry. They recognize that building of a new industry is a once in a generation opportunity that will create competitive career paths and environmental stewardship.”
This year’s recipients of the Rising Star: Offshore Wind Student Scholarship are:
- Giovanni Perrotti from Newport, Rhode Island. Giovanni participated in the summer Boatbuilding and Restoration Program at IYRS School of Technology and Trade, receiving high praise from his instructor in a course meant for adults. He wants to use his education to make turbines more efficient through novel energy storage methods and other improvements.
- Lindsey Greer from Smithfield, Virginia. Lindsey has participated in the KidWind program since 2020, qualifying for the national competition on three occasions. Through the competition, she learned to treat failure as a learning opportunity. She hopes to use that experience to design the next generation of wind turbines after graduation.
- Loreley Godfrey from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Loreley graduated high school at 16 and founded a nonprofit dedicated to connecting student sustainability clubs. She has also testified on offshore wind before the New Hampshire State House and plans to use her education to continue advocating for offshore wind.
As a non-profit organization, the Oceantic Network’s driving purpose is to inform, coordinate, and mobilize human ingenuity, enterprise, and labor to take advantage of the urgent need to tap the vast offshore wind and renewable energy resources that lie in the world’s oceans. The collective, coordinated efforts of our 600+ members equip communities and nations to accelerate the transition to clean energy and create economic opportunities.
