Jessica Durkin of Portland Earns Toppers Education Fund Scholarship

Jessica Durkin '18, a biology major from Eastern Connecticut State University, was the recipient of a Toppers Education Fund Scholarship on Oct. 16 at the Tumble Brook Country Club in Bloomfield. The Portland native was among four Jewish college students who were awarded based on academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.

Durkin is a the president of Hillel, an on-campus Jewish student organization; a member of the Biology Club and Repertory Dance Troupe; a biology teaching assistant; a resident assistant in a first year residence hall; a community garden volunteer in Windham; and is participating in an independent study that investigates the effects of microgravity on neuronal functioning.

"I think my wide range of involvement helped me get this scholarship," said Durkin. "I plan on using the money to help pay for two biology field courses" - one to Arizona this coming spring to study desert ecology; the other to the Bahamas next summer to study tropical biology. "I have not done much traveling, ever, so I'm very excited and extremely grateful for this opportunity."