NYOKA BERTRAND  - A third year recipient, and a resident of Swanton, Vermont. She is a third year social work student at University of Vermont. She has participated in the UVM/Abenaki Summer Happening Program, and also have been involved in the UVM/Abenaki Outreach Program.  She has participated in community service and held a part-time job at University of Vermont in Residential Life.  She says she will be studying social work.  She says that as a social worker, she could help to prepare astronauts for their long journey into space.  Her knowledge within the social work field could help her to help in the development of the full potential of individuals working in space.  She believes that she could improve the lives of many people who could be affected by an astronaut leaving for space.  She could help prepare the astronauts emotionally for their journey, which would be very helpful to them. 

 ASHLEY ERNO  - A second year recipient, and a resident of Highgate Center, Vermont.   She is a second year student majoring in social work at Champlain College.  She has been involved in the UVM/Abenaki Outreach program for the past four years.  She has also participated in multiple community service activities, including green-up day, the MVU Annual Blood Drive, the Toy Drive, and American Cancer Society Daffodil Days. She says her job as a social worker would be a great help to NASA especially in preparing the astronauts for their journey.  She will help astronauts better their human condition both mentally and emotionally.  Ashley believes that social workers make a positive impact in the world, and would be a great help to astronauts as well as their family and friends.  She says in order for the trip of the astronaut to be successful they need to be prepared and they need to know their family and friends are capable of living successful lives while they are gone and her job would allow just this.

KATIE BEDARD  - A first  year recipient

MARK ST. FRANCIS  - A first year recipient