Kieran was born on the Cape and raised in Brewster, enjoying every bit of what this beautiful place has to offer. From an early age, his interest has been related to the water and coastal areas - from tidal pools and the flats to the outer stretches of the Cape. Kieran attended Nauset school system where he was very involved in music and the arts; yet he saw saw his largest strength in the STEM classes. Despite graduating from high school amid the pandemic, Kieran considers his time there invaluable and is grateful for the teachers and mentors who encouraged him to explore new interests.

Upon graduation, Kieran entered Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth where he is currently majoring in civil and environmental engineering. "Thayer teaches in a unique need-finding and project-based manner that allows students to explore other departmental interests. This tactic reveals the relevance and timeliness of engineering work in combating coastal flooding," says Kieran. Although Kieran was already aware of Coastal Engineering by virtue of passing by the Orleans headquarters as well as seeing Coastal's work in locations around the Cape, he initially found out about the scholarship through Nauset high school's counselors. Kieran says he's very grateful for this scholarship which has been helpful in offsetting the cost of tuition and giving him the ability to study and explore his interests at such a great college.

Following graduation from Dartmouth, Kieran intends to travel to a unique array of other coastal areas to compare them to Cape Cod. Drawing parallels and learning from place to place, he hopes to work in the field of coastal stabilization, particularly pertaining to the use of aquaculture as a possible solution. He also intends to pursue his interest in fisheries science and management.

Best wishes to Kieran on productive and enjoyable studies and fulfilling career!

Kieran Norton Receives Coastal Engineering's Thomas W. Joy Scholarship