The Aquarium of the Pacific announced Tuesday that it is accepting applications through Oct. 15 for a new scholarship program that will award $50,000 each year to support Black students who demonstrate a commitment to studies related to careers in the aquarium field.
Participants will pursue studies in the areas of ocean education, animal husbandry, water quality, building maintenance or facilities, microbiology, and business management.
“Through this program, the Aquarium hopes to bring meaningful opportunities in the marine sciences to African American students and to bring diverse minds to the domain of solving the issues facing our planet,” according to a statement released by aquarium officials.
The scholarship “is available to residents of California with African American heritage of any age as long as they provide proof of acceptance or enrollment in an accredited university, community college or trade school with field of study related to aquarium fields listed above.”
Award recipients will be selected by a committee of Aquarium staff members and members of the community. Recipients will be notified by Dec. 31.
Applications may be submitted online at pacific.to/africanamericanscholar or received via mail by the deadline, which is midnight on Oct.15. Mailed applications should be sent to: African American Scholar Program, Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802.
The scholarship is funded through donor support. Those interested in supporting the program can make a donation online or contact the Aquarium development department by calling Ryan Ashton at 562-951-1701 or sending an email to rashton@lbaop.org.