Three URI students named 2026 NOAA Hollings Scholarship awardees – Rhody Today
Source: https://www.uri.edu/news/2026/04/three-uri-students-named-2026-noaa-hollings-scholarship-awardees
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
Three URI students named 2026 NOAA Hollings Scholarship awardees – Rhody Today
URI students Makenzie Denzler, Kaitlyn Muller, and Nate Riello have been named 2026 Hollings Scholars. (URI Photo / Niels-Viggo Hobbs)
KINGSTON, R.I. – April 17, 2026 – The University of Rhode Island is proud to share that three sophomores have been selected for the highly competitive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship for 2026.
The Hollings Scholarship program aims to increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric sciences, promote public support for environmental stewardship and prepare students for careers in public service at agencies. Only about 120 students nationally are honored with this award. Recipients are granted $19,000 in funding for two years of undergraduate study along with a paid summer internship at a NOAA facility anywhere in the United States.
Recipients will attend an orientation at NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, from June 2-4, where they will meet NOAA mentors and fellow scholars and visit a NOAA facility to learn more about the program. Their internships will take place during the summer of 2027.
URI’s 2026 Hollings Scholarship recipients, all students in URI’s College of the Environment and Life Sciences, are:
Makenzie Denzler, a marine biology major from Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey;
Kaitlyn Muller, a marine biology major from Toms River, New Jersey;
Nate Riello, a marine biology major from Point Pleasant, New Jersey.
Makenzie Denzler
, who is eager to explore a new part of the country, is hoping to study how climate change and human activities influence the movement of marine species. After graduation, she hopes to pursue graduate school and a Ph.D.
“I applied for the NOAA Hollings Scholarship because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Denzler. “This internship will be an incredible experience and help me reach my goals.”
With her previous field experience and knowledge of the NOAA facilities,
Kaitlyn Muller
applied for the scholarship to conduct novel research and grow into a stronger scientist. For her internship, she hopes to experience different ecosystems by working in a new region outside of the Northeast.
“Thank you to my mentors at URI, Dr. Lauren Zane, Dr. Shelby Rinehart, Dr. Serena Moseman-Valtierra, as well as my mentors in New Jersey — this opportunity would not have been possible without their support,” said Muller. “I am confident that this incredible opportunity will expand my horizons and shape my future career and I look forward to creating a network of peers and NOAA experts through this program.”
Nate Riello
plans to take full advantage of the resources graciously provided by NOAA by remaining curious, developing valuable research skills and gaining experience that will support his future career. He is particularly excited about the opportunity to connect with peers who share the same passion for the ocean and the scientific process.
“I am ecstatic for the chance to engage in research on a comprehensive scale during the internship, while also opening doors that will help shape me into the marine biologist that I have always aspired to be,” said Riello. “I would like to give a special thank you to the URI Marine Biology program, the Office of Fellowships and Dr. Wetherbee for inspiring me to pursue my goals and for introducing me to undergraduate research.”
2026 marks the 18th consecutive year that URI has had students named Hollings Scholars. Since the start of the program in 2005, more than 50 URI students have been selected for the prestigious program. The program is named for the late U.S. Senator Ernest “Fritz” Hollings of South Carolina, who was a champion for ocean policy and conservation. For more information on the program, visit the
Hollings Scholarship website
.
URI students who will be sophomores starting in Fall 2026 and are interested in applying for the Hollings Scholarship are encouraged to reach out to Keegan Scott, Director of Fellowships at URI. While institutional endorsement through the office is not required, the Office of Fellowships has offered students guidance and support through the application process. For more information, email keegan.scott@uri.edu or visit
uri.edu/fellowships
.
This story was written by Kiera Wrage, a senior majoring in public relations at the University of Rhode Island. Kiera is interning in URI’s Department of Communications and Marketing.
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URI students Makenzie Denzler, Kaitlyn Muller, and Nate Riello have been named 2026 Hollings Scholars. (URI Photo / Niels-Viggo Hobbs)
KINGSTON, R.I. – April 17, 2026 – The University of Rhode Island is proud to share that three sophomores have been selected for the highly competitive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship for 2026.
The Hollings Scholarship program aims to increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric sciences, promote public support for environmental stewardship and prepare students for careers in public service at agencies. Only about 120 students nationally are honored with this award. Recipients are granted $19,000 in funding for two years of undergraduate study along with a paid summer internship at a NOAA facility anywhere in the United States.
Recipients will attend an orientation at NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, from June 2-4, where they will meet NOAA mentors and fellow scholars and visit a NOAA facility to learn more about the program. Their internships will take place during the summer of 2027.
URI’s 2026 Hollings Scholarship recipients, all students in URI’s College of the Environment and Life Sciences, are:
Makenzie Denzler, a marine biology major from Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey;
Kaitlyn Muller, a marine biology major from Toms River, New Jersey;
Nate Riello, a marine biology major from Point Pleasant, New Jersey.
Makenzie Denzler
, who is eager to explore a new part of the country, is hoping to study how climate change and human activities influence the movement of marine species. After graduation, she hopes to pursue graduate school and a Ph.D.
“I applied for the NOAA Hollings Scholarship because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Denzler. “This internship will be an incredible experience and help me reach my goals.”
With her previous field experience and knowledge of the NOAA facilities,
Kaitlyn Muller
applied for the scholarship to conduct novel research and grow into a stronger scientist. For her internship, she hopes to experience different ecosystems by working in a new region outside of the Northeast.
“Thank you to my mentors at URI, Dr. Lauren Zane, Dr. Shelby Rinehart, Dr. Serena Moseman-Valtierra, as well as my mentors in New Jersey — this opportunity would not have been possible without their support,” said Muller. “I am confident that this incredible opportunity will expand my horizons and shape my future career and I look forward to creating a network of peers and NOAA experts through this program.”
Nate Riello
plans to take full advantage of the resources graciously provided by NOAA by remaining curious, developing valuable research skills and gaining experience that will support his future career. He is particularly excited about the opportunity to connect with peers who share the same passion for the ocean and the scientific process.
“I am ecstatic for the chance to engage in research on a comprehensive scale during the internship, while also opening doors that will help shape me into the marine biologist that I have always aspired to be,” said Riello. “I would like to give a special thank you to the URI Marine Biology program, the Office of Fellowships and Dr. Wetherbee for inspiring me to pursue my goals and for introducing me to undergraduate research.”
2026 marks the 18th consecutive year that URI has had students named Hollings Scholars. Since the start of the program in 2005, more than 50 URI students have been selected for the prestigious program. The program is named for the late U.S. Senator Ernest “Fritz” Hollings of South Carolina, who was a champion for ocean policy and conservation. For more information on the program, visit the
Hollings Scholarship website
.
URI students who will be sophomores starting in Fall 2026 and are interested in applying for the Hollings Scholarship are encouraged to reach out to Keegan Scott, Director of Fellowships at URI. While institutional endorsement through the office is not required, the Office of Fellowships has offered students guidance and support through the application process. For more information, email keegan.scott@uri.edu or visit
uri.edu/fellowships
.
This story was written by Kiera Wrage, a senior majoring in public relations at the University of Rhode Island. Kiera is interning in URI’s Department of Communications and Marketing.
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