RGMS Recipient- Shea Prescott

GEM Environmental is proud to introduce our 1st time recipient of the Robert Graves Memorial Scholarship for Veterans in STEM. Andrina Shields, the mother of Robert Graves, has partnered with GEM to award a $1,500 scholarship to Veterans in STEM fields and to share Robbie’s story to help spread Veteran Suicide Awareness throughout our community. The 2022 scholarship was awarded to Shea Prescott. Congratulations Shea!

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Shea is from Jacksonville, FL. He was honorably discharged from active duty in the United States Navy in 2020. He is currently serving as a SEL Reservist at 4th Navy Expeditionary Logistics Regiment at Blount Island, FL as an Electronic Technician 2nd Class. His interests include computer science, engineering, electronics, and the great outdoors. Shea values STEM education because humanity and the world itself is entering a technological age, and he feels that to expand and progress as a society, we need to understand and be at the forefront of these fields.

How did you hear about G.E.M. Environmental and this scholarship opportunity?
STEM SCHOLARSHIP INTERNET RESEARCH

Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus. 
I am a service member in the United States Navy and I recently concluded a deployment in the Gulf of Oman on a destroyer and transitioned from active duty to reserves to pursue a degree at Jacksonville University's Electrical Engineering program. As an Aegis Fire Controlman 2nd class deployed in 2020, I was the work center supervisor for CF03 where I was responsible for the Fire Control aegis suite for anti-air and ballistic missile defense warfare areas for my ship. The technical training I received while serving in the United States Navy gave me the electrical background and theory to repair and conduct maintenance on sophisticated AEGIS BMD radars and illuminators. These skills provided me the foundation to pursue my electrical engineering degree at Jacksonville University. The primary mission of my ship was Ballistic Missile Defense and as a Missile System Supervisor. I operated the console in charge of final release of ordnance for air and BMD tracks that were threats to our nation and allies.

If your scholarship funds HAVE NOT BEEN USED yet, how do you anticipate you will achieve success?
The United States Navy has instilled in me the drive to succeed in my mission and the fortitude to finish the task at hand. My dream and aspiration is to achieve this degree in order to be employed by the Missile Defense Agency so that I may continue protecting our nation from ballistic missile threats on the homeland as a civilian. I've seen firsthand how sophisticated and advanced the potential destructive capabilities of inter-ballistic missiles can be. The importance of STEM related fields such as Electrical Engineering would give me the skills required to be on the forefront of our nation's defense and Patriot program.

Tell us what this scholarship means to you.
The military benefits for being a service member does not pay for all of my expenses, especially for books, labs, and other school supplies. This scholarship will provide me with the financial security in order to prioritize my education regardless of cost of living, transportation, and living accommodations. I am incredibly grateful and honored to be a recipient for the Robert Graves Memorial Scholarship. I am a first-generation STEM field major in my family. I hope to keep this trend and instill in my future family the importance of STEM related fields.

To learn more about Shea Prescott, click here.