College Prize in Earth & Environment Awarded to Kelly Schisa!
Congratulations to our winner of the College Prize for Excellence in Earth & Environment, Kelly Schisa!
The College Prize in Earth and Environment is the highest honor for our undergraduates, awarded to one student each year who demonstrates extraordinary achievement, both in and out of the classroom.
Kelly is graduating with a BA in Earth and Environmental Science and an MS in Remote Sensing and Geospatial Sciences. She has made substantial contributions to the Friedl Land Cover and Surface Climate Group’s remote sensing research, focusing on vegetation change in a warming Arctic by creating high-resolution land cover maps from satellite imagery. This work involves distinguishing vegetation types and applying machine learning models to predict land cover—tasks that demand meticulous attention to detail and a deep interest in the complexities of land cover remote sensing. Kelly has consistently demonstrated both, and her insightful questions and curiosity have enriched the research team.
Beyond her academic achievements, she has been actively involved in BU’s Environmental Student Organization, served as a senior staff writer with The Emerald Review, BU’s student-run environmental magazine, and volunteered with The Food Project. Outside the university, she also serves as a Physical Science Student Trainee with the EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division.
Kelly’s dedication and accomplishments make her a truly deserving recipient of this award! Congratulations!