Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Rising Star: Offshore Wind Student Scholarship

Giovanni Perrotti
Giovanni grew up in Newport, Rhode Island and attended Portsmouth High School. He will attend the Webb Institute in the Fall, where he plans to study naval architecture and marine engineering.
Giovanni took part in the summer Boatbuilding and Restoration Program at IYRS School of Technology and Trade, where he got his first experience with marine engineering. He has theorized a method of energy storage for wind turbines using air, rather than batteries, and plans to use his education to solve critical problems in the offshore wind industry as it moves into the future.

Lindsey Greer
Lindsey attended high school in Smithfield, Virginia and will attend James Madison University in the Fall to study engineering.
Her passion for offshore wind began when she participated in the KidWind challenge in 2020, where her model turbine designs qualified for the national competition that year, as well as when she participated again in 2021 and 2023. Through the competition, Lindsey learned to fail fast, reiterate fast, and take failures as lessons. She plans to use these skills after graduation to design the next generation of offshore wind turbines.

Loreley Godfrey
Loreley grew up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and attended the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School where she graduated at 16 years old. She will attend Wellesley College in the Fall to study political science.
Loreley founded a nonprofit called Seacoast Students 4 Sustainability, through which she organized rallies and strikes to mobilize youth for climate action, set up “Earth Weeks of Action” in three school districts, and testified in the New Hampshire State House on offshore wind legislation. Loreley plans to use her degree to better advocate for offshore wind.
Rising Star: Offshore Wind Scholarship
The Business Network for Offshore Wind’s Rising Star: Offshore Wind Scholarship is awarded each year to college-bound high school seniors who have demonstrated impeccable academic achievement and a keen interest in pursuing a career in offshore wind renewable energy. Each scholarship award will be for a total of $5,000, which must be used toward tuition fees.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- A high school student currently in their senior year intending to enroll full time in a two or four-year college or university
- Demonstrates excellent academic achievement and community service
- Involvement in school projects related to any aspect of offshore wind energy, and/or an internship working with companies involved the offshore wind industry
- Applicants are judged by academic industry leaders and Network Board members based on their interest in pursuing a career in offshore wind, academic achievement, and financial need
Thank you to the judges of the 2023 Rising Star: Offshore Wind Student Scholarship
Donate to the Rising Star: Offshore Wind Student Scholarship Fund
2023 Rising Star Scholarship Sponsor:
2022 Scholarship Winners:
Alison Mueller
Allison was born in Jakarta and raised in Australia, until her family moved to the U.S. when her father accepted a job transitioning from oil & gas into the growing offshore wind industry. She is heavily involved in computer science and this past year participated in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow STEM-based competition. Graduating with a 4.35 GPA, Allison will be attending the College of William & Mary in Fall 2022 to study computer science. She believes the key to unlocking offshore wind’s full potential requires efficient transportation and storage, which relies on effective data. She hopes to use her computer science degree to push offshore wind to the next stage.
Attending: College of William & Mary
Area of Study: Computer Science
(Member Sponsor: Fugro USA Marine)
Cooper Barrett
Cooper will attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Fall 2022 to purse a degree in Marine Transportation and an Unlimited Tonnage Third Mate’s License. He is a four-time All-Conference athlete, an All-State Athlete, and three-time Wrestling Conference Champion. Growing up in New York, Cooper’s goal is to learn about cutting-edge maritime technology that will prepare him for a successful career in the offshore wind industry. With marine technology being a key sector to developing the U.S. offshore wind industry, Cooper wants to work with companies that require Jones Act-compliant vessels to construct projects off America’s coastlines.
Attending: Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Area of Study: Marine Transportation
(Member Sponsor: Massachusetts Maritime Academy)
Sara Williamson
Sara grew up in Mechanicsville, Virginia and will attend Virginia Commonwealth University’s Business School to study marketing in Fall 2022. She has competed in Distribution Education Club of America (DECA) events on the international level and was president of her school’s National Green School’s Society chapter. Her goal after graduation is to participate in GE’s Commercial Leadership Program focused on renewable energy and work within an offshore wind company’s sales and marketing team.
Attending: Virginia Commonwealth University
Area of Study: Marketing
(Member Sponsor: GE Renewable Energy.)
Anastacia Simpson
Ana attended school on Vinalhaven Island, located within Maine’s Fox Islands and will attend Massachusetts-based Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Fall 2022 to study engineering with a focus on sustainable energy. Her goal is to return to Maine after graduation to help the state develop its sustainable energy infrastructure, including offshore wind. Ana sees wind power as an excellent source of clean energy for the U.S. as it shifts to sustainable energy and wants to be a part of this important change.
Attending: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Area of Study: Engineering
(Member Sponsor: Maine Marine Composites)