Three BSOS Undergraduates Receive 2026 NOAA Hollings Scholarships

Alongside five of their fellow Terps, BSOS majors Khushi Desai, Leila Vergara and Rohan Warrier have been awarded Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarships from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

As Hollings Scholars, awardees receive scholarship support for their junior and senior years of college, financial support for attending up to two national scientific conferences, and an opportunity to participate in a paid, 10-week internship with a NOAA facility. This year’s Hollings Scholars—128 students total, selected from a competitive applicant pool of 829 students from Guam, Washington, D.C., and 40 states—will complete their NOAA internships during the summer of 2027.

Learn a bit about the 2026 NOAA Holling Scholars who call BSOS their academic home by reading below.

Khushi Desai

Khushi Desai is a junior pursuing a B.S in environmental science and policy and a minor in science, technology, ethics and policy.

This spring, Desai worked in the Maryland Department of Energy Management’s Office of Resilience. There, they conducted research on extreme heat and managed retreat, a strategy to proactively relocate people away from vulnerable areas; analyzed other states’ policies to make recommendations for Maryland; built a dashboard for tracking the state’s progress toward Resilient Maryland Strategy goals; drafted internal and external communications; and researched and developed a proposed new funding model for the office.

“In the future, I plan to work in state government, developing climate resilience in local municipalities, particularly underserved or overburdened ones,” Desai said, noting that they also plans to pursue a graduate degree in environmental justice, urban design and sustainability one day. “I am also interested in working with coastal communities, supporting the creation of plans to address the impact of sea level rise and climate change on the economy, culture and safety.”

To gain more coastal experience—Desai completed a photo essay this past winter on oyster and human relations in Choptank region—Desai hopes to complete an internship with NOAA's Office of Coastal Management.

“From an internship with this office, I hope to gain experience in the coastal management and urban planning sectors, areas where I haven't had much specific training. I also hope to learn more about policies and practices in other states to see what could be improved in Maryland,” they said. “I am excited to connect with professionals, learn about their experiences, and get advice on my journey.

Desai is co-president of the 17 for Peace and Justice student group, which they joined as a freshman. Desai has collaborated on the recently launched CEDAR Gallery—a faculty and student-led environmental gallery that centers ecologies, diasporas, and ancestral roots—and is a member of the University Honors and Federal Fellows programs.

Leila Vergara

Leila Vergara is a junior environmental science and policy major who is concentrating her studies on politics and policy.

Vergara was inspired to apply for a NOAA Hollings Scholarship for both personal, and professional reasons.

“I have seen firsthand how natural disasters devastate coastal cities, especially in underserved communities. My grandparents live in a Puerto Rican beach town, and it truly does not look the same, almost 10 years following Hurricane Maria,” she said. “I hope that the Hollings Program will give me the skills needed to interact with issues like these.”

Since the spring, Vergara has been working as a Sustainability Research Intern with the Washington, D.C.-based Apartment and Office Building Association’s Sustainability Office, analyzing building energy data, helping members better understand energy efficiency trends, and developing resources and communicating her findings to the public. She has also liaised with the Department of Energy and the Environment to inform future policy decisions.

Through her internship with NOAA—which she hopes will be with NOAA’s National Ocean Service—Vergara hopes to explore what sustainability looks like for those living in a different kind of environment.

“I hope that working for the National Ocean Service will give me the opportunity to learn about coastal resilience, especially in communities that are susceptible to tropical storms and rising ocean levels, and who would suffer without proper research and advocacy,” she said.

Vergara is a part of the Honors Global Challenges and Solutions Program and the Federal Fellows Program; is an ambassador for the Honors Ambassadors program; and is a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, where she serves as the External Philanthropy Chair.

After graduation, Vergara hopes to work in a major city to better understand how sustainable practices are implemented, particularly in relation to walkability, public transportation systems, and energy-efficient design. 

Rohan Warrier

Rohan Warrier, a junior pursuing a B.S. in economics with an interest in urban planning, knows that his academic area of interest isn’t very typical for a Hollings Scholar.

“I was timid to apply at first because I was not sure that Hollings was looking for my approach, but I was encouraged by the fact that they have several programs that focus on urban sustainability and, in fact, are driven to find climate solutions that have positive economic impacts,” he recalled. “Being accepted is not only a great honor, it is also incredibly validating to know that my interests and career trajectory are real and appreciated by a body as impactful and relevant as NOAA.”

The NOAA programs that piqued Warrier’s interest are those in Washington state and Hawaii, which are focused on identifying economically viable urban sustainability initiatives. Those programs’ mission is part of Warrier’s career mission, too.

“Part of my mission, as I enter the field of urban planning, is to identify environmentally sustainable practices that not only serve our oceans and waterways, but also bolster developers’ bottom lines. When environmentalism becomes demonstrably profitable, I believe that we will see a revolution in development strategies,” he said. “I hope to intern on the West Coast or in the Pacific Islands to broaden my knowledge on how to approach sustainability in different climate zones and geographies than what I have worked on, living in Maryland and the East Coast.”

Since spring 2025, Warrier has been working as a research assistant for the Options for Adapting to Rising Seas Project headed by Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics Professor Rebecca Epanchin-Niell. In that role, he has performed data analyses to help determine if coastal farmers facing sea level rise are accurately assessing the health of their land visually.

Warrier is part of the Honors Global Challenges and Solutions program, and the Honors College Student Advisory Council. He interned with the Maryland General Assembly during the spring 2026 semester, and is a former member of the Global Communities Student Association.

Warrier plans to start an urban planning club this summer, through which members can learn about planning history, global approaches, and advocacy for local projects in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. 

Published on Tue, May 26, 2026 - 1:20PM