The "More Like Jimmy" Scholarship
For Marine Or Environmental Science:
There were few people as passionate about sharks as Jimmy Hall. This scholarship was founded in his honor, to pass on the spirit of curiosity and excitement for sharks. He inspired countless people with his energy, enthusiasm and infectious personality. His unwavering hunger for life and sense of adventure had many of his friends striving to be “More Like Jimmy.” Jimmy died in 2007, during one of his many great adventures, a BASE jumping expedition to Baffin Island. The “More Like Jimmy” Scholarship is privately funded by an anonymous donor. It is intended for students that pursue a career in marine biology or environmental science.
From 2018 to 2024, the scholarship has awarded upwards $82,000 to 24 students, from $500 to $4,000 in individual awards. The MLJ Scholarship continues this year for the 7th time! Awardees can receive amounts outlined previously each year depending upon grade level and dedication to education. Up to $12,000 in scholarship funds may be awarded yearly. The scholarship may be awarded to the same student each year of their undergraduate studies. Applicants must submit all materials above, please download, read, and follow these instructions.
Eligibility and how to apply
Must love Elasmobranchs
Fulltime UOG or GCC student who intends to pursue a career in marine or environmental science.
Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Graduate of a Guam, CNMI, FSM or Palau High School.
Unofficial transcripts are accepted.
Please use the “contact for more info” button at the top of the page to email Linda Trateau for more information and the 2024 application.
Applications are CLOSED, please check back here for 2025 news.
MLJ 2024 Awardees in review
The More Like Jimmy Scholarship 2024 awarded a total of $15,000 to six highly qualified applicants currently attending the University of Guam. Each of the awardees is planning a career in Marine Biology or Environmental Science. Since its inception in 2018, the Scholarship has awarded $82,000 to outstanding students of Guam and other Islands of Micronesia. The scholarship honors the work Jimmy Hall in the fields of shark education and marine preservation. Jimmy loved adventure. His enthusiasm was contagious and most people who met him said, “I want to be More Like Jimmy!” This year’s awardees are Ale’a Duenas, MaryJolleen Perez, Joshua Artuz, Kiana Mae Camacho, Maria Sol Marquez and Nicolas Ubaldo. The scholarship takes place annually with the assistance of the UOG Endowment Foundation. Information can be found in the spring with the Fañomnåkan Scholarship offerings on their website at https://give.uog.edu/.
MLJ 2021 Awardees in review
Photo 1: 2021’s MLJ scholarship awardees, totally $11,000! From left to right — Gabby Prelosky, Anela Duenas, Laura Caser, Ami Vice and Victor Sambilay.
Photos 2 & 3: Ashley was a recipient of the scholarship in 2019. From Ashley — “After graduating from high school, I pursued my education at the University of Guam and graduated with my Biology degree. Shortly after, I worked with the coral restoration lab at UOG Marine Laboratory focusing on restoring Guam's reefs by raising staghorn coral in Guam's two ocean nurseries. Today, while working for the coral restoration lab, I am now furthering my education as a Master's student studying growth rates of 8 species of Acropora in different nursery environments to help with restoration in Guam and throughout Micronesia. Additionally, I take on the role as an outreach coordinator at the Marine Lab to inspire students and visitors to see the value of preserving our island's resources.”
Photos 4 & 5: Gabby was awarded the scholarship for four years totalling $9,000. Before entering the University of Guam, she was a member of Marine Mania from her freshman year and was president as a senior. From Gabby — “As an avid shark enthusiast, after graduating high school, I pursued a Bachelors of Science in Biology at the University of Guam. Through UOG I became active in several science and marine science clubs! As of the summer of 2023, I was able to fulfill a dream of working on shark research under the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program, where I was the first person to successfully image and see the development of electroreceptors in shark embryos- specifically the Chain Catshark. Currently, as I research graduate schools to become a shark biologist, I work as an Environmental Health Specialist at Guam EPA! Picture 1 — removal of shark embryos from egg sacks (personally my favorite in action) & picture 2 — holding a Catshark pup!”
Last Photo: Ami was awarded the scholarship for three years, totaling $7,000. From Ami — “Håfa adai, my name is Ami and I am a three-time recipient of the More Like Jimmy Award. This scholarship has supported me throughout the completion of my bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Guam and encouraged me to complete certifications up to the Rescue Diver level. In the fall of 2024, I will begin a masters’ degree in marine sciences at UOG with a focus in fish population ecology. I am currently working on completing the UOG scientific diver requirements to begin the summer fieldwork and data collection for my thesis. I am an active member of the Micronesian Conservation Coalition (MCC) and assist with their long-term reef monitoring projects. I have also had the pleasure of teaching courses with MCC's annual Micronesian Island Ecology Course––a hands-on marine biology summer program for high schoolers in Yap. Outside of the marine sector, I am the Lead Youth Mediator with Inafa'maolek Conciliation, a local non-profit dedicated to promoting peaceful approaches to conflict resolution. I am excited to continue my education in the sciences, and look forward to applying this knowledge to protect our island's natural resources.”
MLJ 2020 Awardees in review
The More Like Jimmy Scholarship 2020 awarded a total of $17,000 to seven applicants currently attending the University of Guam. Each of the awardees is planning on a career in Marine Biology or Environmental Science. Since its inception in 2018, the Scholarship has awarded $34,000 to outstanding students of Guam and other Islands of Micronesia. Last year’s awardees (seen below): Nikko Galanto, Ahmyia Cacapit, Anela Duenas, Laura Gombar, Laura Caser, Gabriella Prelosky and Ami Vice. The More Like Jimmy Scholarship Committee and Shark Allies wish these students continued academic success, especially during these challenging pandemic times on island and in the world.