2005-2006 scholarship Awardees
 

The IAEM Scholarship Commission chose five students to receive scholarships for the 2005-2006 school year. Those receiving awards were Sudha Arlikatti, Tammie Fenise Bell, Kailash Gupta, William E. Herskowitz, and Mark Kozak. Arlikatti, Bell and Kozak received $1000 scholarships. Gupta and Herskowitz received $500 scholarships.

Special Scholarship Donation by DRI International

The awards for Arlikatti, Bell, and Kozak were made possible through a special donation to the scholarship fund by DRI International. Awards were based on high academic standing, excellent writing skills, and commendable reference letters.

Scholarship Recipient Profiles

• Sudha Arlikatti is earning her Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science at Texas A&M University, and will graduate in 2006. As a research assistant in the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center, she has worked on many National Science Foundation (NSF) funded projects. Her dissertation research project is another NSF funded project on earthquake adjustment processed by households in Washington and California. She has earned a certificate in Environmental and Hazard Management emphasizing disaster response, environmental planning, GIS, risk analysis, and hazards management and mitigation. Arlikatti earned her Master’s degree in City Planning from the Indian Institute of Technology at Kharapur and a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
• Tammie Fenise Bell is earning her Ph.D. in Health Sciences at Touro University International. She plans to graduate in 2007. She presently works as the Human Services Planner for the Pitt County (N.C.) Health Department where she is responsible for ensuring that public health plans are created through collaborative and coordinated efforts from various emergency response agencies. She also is responsible for public health employee training through the use of online programs such as FEMA and the North Carolina Public Health Workforce Development Systems. Bell served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years.
• Kailash Gupta is working toward a Ph.D. in Emergency Management at North Dakota State University. He plans to graduate in 2007. He was part of the fully equipped HAM Radio Operators team reaching Gandhinagar after the Gujarat 2001 earthquake in India. He is a Certified Disaster Manager having completed the Certificate in Disaster Management Program of the Indira Gandhi Naitonal Open University in New Delhi, India. Gupta has made presentations on emergency management at national and international conferences, including the World Congress on Natural Disaster Mitigation 2004.
• William E. Herskowitz is working toward a B.S. degree in Occupational Safety and Environmental Health and a minor in Environmental Hazards and Emergency Management at Millersville University. He plans to graduate in 2008. He is a volunteer in emergency services in his community through his involvement with the Neffsville Community Fire Company and the Lancaster County Hazmat 2. Herskowitz is a delegate to the South Central Pa. Regional Counter Terrorism Task Force Fire/Rescue & Hazmat Subcommittee and the Lancaster County Foam Task Force. He is a member of the local squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.
• Mark Kozak is working toward a B.S. degree in Emergency Management and an A.S. degree in Emergency Medical Services at the University of Akron. He has completed an A.S. in Fire Service at Stark State College. He will complete the other degrees in 2006. Kozak graduated in 2004 from the paramedic education program at Akron General Medical Center, ranking third in his class. He is a member of the International Emergency Management Student Association at the University of Akron. Kozak is employed part-time with Hiram Fire Department, Ravenna Township Fire Department, and Northfield Center Fire Department as a firefighter and nationally registered and state certified Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic. Additionally, he is certified in Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations. Kozak is a Rope Rescue Technician, American Heart Association CPR/First Aid instructor, and EMS special topics instructor.