Kathryn “Katie” Veasey ’17 will link her concentration in environmental studies to her love for golf in a project for which she has been awarded Hamilton’s Bristol Fellowship.
Her project, “Exploring Golf Course Maintenance Practices in Varying Climates and Terrains,” will take her to Iceland, Scotland, the Dominican Republic, Morocco and Japan.
The Bristol Fellowship is designed to encourage Hamilton students to experience the richness of the world by living outside the United States for one year and studying an area of great personal interest. Veasey, one of three Bristol Fellowship recipients this year, will receive a $30,000 award.
Major: Environmental Studies
Hometown: Rumson, N.J.
High School: Rumson-Fair Haven Reg High School
Her project proposal said: “Golf course maintenance practices vary depending on history, location, climate, cultures and economic status of countries. I want to explore if and how these factors encourage sustainability by working with greenskeepers and spending time with golfers. I will also spend time residents in the local communities to understand/gain community perspective on how proximity to golf courses affects their lives (socially) and livelihood (economically).”
She studied at the University of Otaga in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Veasey received a summer Emerson research grant in 2016 to analyze the abundance of microplastics along the New Jersey coast. She presented her research on that project at the American Chemical Society annual meeting in April.
She also was a student researcher in the University of Otaga Chemistry Department while studying abroad in New Zealand, and in 2015 she was a marine science intern at Clean Ocean Action in New Jersey.
Veasey is a member and captain of the Women’s Golf team and former president and secretary of Hamilton Environmental Action Group (HEAG). She is a peer advisor and team leader for Hamilton’s Career Center, helping students to develop resumes, cover letters and facilitate career exploration.
The Bristol Fellowship was begun in 1996 as part of a bequest to the college by William M. Bristol Jr., (Class of 1917). The purpose of the endowment, created by his family, is to perpetuate Mr. Bristol’s spirit and share it with students of the college that was such an important part of his life.
