Two Appalachian Laboratory graduate students have been named the inaugural recipients of the President's Graduate Fellowship at the University of Maryland Center for Enviromental Science (UMCES). One fellowship is granted to an exceptional UMCES student that has excelled in their graduate education and is within two years of completing their degree. The second fellowship is granted to an incoming student with highly exceptional credentials.

With more than 100 graduate students attending UMCES, this award was very competitive. The President's Graduate Fellowship is supported through individual donors and foundation contributions. The award provides tuition, a modest stipend and benefits to the recipients.

Kristy Hopfensperger was granted a President's Graduate Fellowship to help continue her research in Dyke Marsh Preserve along the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. She is studying plant communities in the preserve. Under the direction of Dr. Katharina Engelhardt, Hopfensperger expects to complete her Ph.D. in June 2007. She earned a M.S. in Environmental Science from Washington State University and a B.S. in Wildlife Management and Biology from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.

Chris Moore was granted the President's Graduate Fellowship to help initiate his graduate education and research at AL. He is starting his Ph.D. work with Dr. Mark Castro in the fall of 2006. He plans to quantify and model mercury fluxes from the surfaces of lakes in Maryland using micrometeorological techniques. His work will ultimately lead to a greater understanding of how mercury actually moves through the environment. Chris is finishing his M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia and earned his B.S. from West Virginia University Institute of Technology in 2003.