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 who pursue a career in marine biology or environmental science.
Since its inception in 2018, the Scholarship has awarded $96,000 to outstanding students of Guam and other Islands of Micronesia. The scholarship honors the work of Jimmy Hall in the fields of shark education and marine preservation.
Eligibility and how to apply
Must love Elasmobranchs
Full-time 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.
If you were a 2024 awardee and are currently an undergraduate at UOG, you are eligible to reapply. Go to give.uog.edu for the application particulars. You don’t need to do the full application. Scroll down to Continuing Applicants.
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 applications.
The More Like Jimmy scholarship takes place annually with 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 2025 Awardees
This year’s awardees are Sage Uchel, Nicolas Ubaldo, Ale’a Duenas, Mary Jolleen Perez, and Farron Taijeron.
More Like Jimmy Scholarship Recipients 2025. Left to right: back row Nicolas Ubaldo, Sage Uchel, and Farron Taijeron; front row Mary Jolleen Perez and Ale’a Duenas.
Sage Uchel spent her childhood in Palau fishing and looking for clams around the Rock Islands. She overcame her fear of sharks after getting scuba certified and spending time swimming with sharks and rays. She volunteered with the Palau International Coral Reef Center and had a practicum at the Division of Maritime Security and Fish & Wildlife Protection. Sage is actually a business major, but we need marine enthusiasts throughout all vocations. Her enthusiasm will spur her to campaign for the environment and the ocean for the rest of her life. Sage received $1,000 to help with her continuing education.
Nicolas Ubaldo was a scholarship recipient in 2024 & 2025, receiving $1,000 and $2,00,0, respectively. Although not a graduate of a regional high school, he came to Guam with a positive attitude, and he hit the ground swimming towards his goals. Nicolas served as parliamentarian of UOG MO’NA (the Marine Opportunities/Nature Association). MO’NA strives to provide students with opportunities to foster their love for the ocean. He worked with UOG Marine Lab researchers to study Guam corals that appear to be resilient to global warming.
Ale’a Duenas is also a two-year recipient of the scholarship ($2,000 and $3,000). She served as a Micronesia Challenge Young Champion to raise environmental awareness. She became the president of UOG MO’NA. Ale’a also conducted research with a Marine Lab professor to compare fish populations in marine protected areas and non-protected areas. She presented her findings at the Center for Island Sustainability (CIS) Conference and National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
Mary Jolleen Perez was awarded $3,000 in 2024 and $4,000 this year. She has been an active member and served as treasurer of UOG MO’NA. She was a judge for the 47th Annual Guam Island-Wide Science Fair. MJ has a special friend, Carpet Reginald II, a sawshark charm who travels everywhere with her and verifies her love of the ocean and marine life.
Farron Taijeron was the recipient of $4,000 to help him through his senior year to graduation. Farron, known on social media as The Guam Guy, works to educate everyone on a variety of environmental and marine issues. Curious by nature, Farron recently captured brown tree snakes and tested their ability to swim long distances. This is because the snakes have been found at Islan Dåno once considered snake-free. His conclusion, yes, the snakes could make the distance.
MLJ 2024 Awardees
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
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.