Aiyana Awarded Graduate Equity Fellowship at SSU

We are thrilled to congratulate Aiyana on receiving an award for the 2025–

2026 academic year!

The Sonoma State Graduate Student Equity Fellowship is designed to support

first-generation, minority graduate students by reducing reliance on student

loans and helping accelerate progress toward degree completion.

Preference is given to students, like Aiyana, who demonstrate a strong

interest in pursuing doctoral studies and a future in academia.

Thanks to her outstanding and competitive application, Aiyana has been

selected for fellowship funding for the upcoming school year.

Congratulations, Aiyana — well done!

Aiyana Awarded Al Gerhardt Memorial Scholarship by Sonoma County Fish & Wildlife Commission

We’re proud to share that Aiyana Singh, a Biology graduate student at Sonoma State University, 

has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Al Gerhardt Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the 

Sonoma County Fish & Wildlife Commission during their May 15 meeting.

It honors the legacy of Commissioner Al Gerhardt, recognizing students who demonstrate 

academic excellence and a commitment to natural resource management, environmental 

restoration, or preservation.

Congratulations to Aiyana Singh, 2024–25 COAST Coale Scholar!

We’re thrilled to announce that Aiyana Singh, a graduate researcher in the Zippay Lab at Sonoma

State University, has been awarded the prestigious Coale Graduate Scholar Award from the

CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology (COAST)!

The Coale Graduate Scholar Award honors the legacy of Dr. Kenneth Coale, a pioneer in ocean 

science and a founding leader of COAST. It supports CSU graduate students conducting marine, 

coastal, and watershed research, helping them acquire the skills necessary to join a highly skilled,

technologically advanced workforce while promoting and supporting CSU research.

2025 Steelhead Festival: Bella Represents SSU Biodiversity Outreach

Back in March, Bella, an undergraduate researcher in the Zippay Lab, proudly represented 

Sonoma State University at the2025 Steelhead Festival at Lake Sonoma. 

This annual event celebrates the life cycle of steelhead trout and aims to educate the public about 

the freshwater and marine ecosystems these iconic fish depend on.