NOAA’s Office of Education announced $11.9 million each in grants to four lead minority serving institutions across the country. The funds will be used to educate graduate students who pursue degree programs with applied research in NOAA mission-related scientific fields. JCET/UMBC is a partner with CUNY and Howard University. The grants are recompeted every five years and started in 2000. This year marks the 16th year of this partnership. The announcement was made at the NOAA EPP/MSI 8th Biennial Education and Science Forum held in New York – at the City College of New York Campus from 28-31 August 2016. Several students and JCET faculty participated at the conference as session Chairs, Judges and speakers and won awards.