Hayley Betker will serve on the bridge of the NOAA ship Hi'ialakai
Spartan Engineer Hayley Betker ('14) is headed to a Hawaiian adventure - spending her next few years serving on the bridge of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ship Hi'ialakai.
The Hi'ialakai is a NOAA dive platform, stationed in Honolulu.
"We are one of 16 ships in the NOAA fleet. Our mission is oceanographic research including coral reef ecosystem mapping, coral reef health and fish stock studies, and maritime heritage surveys," she said. "One of our ship's specialty missions is observing the Monk Seal population on the northern islands of Hawaii. We'll spend 160-180 days a year at sea, depending on the projects."
Betker recently graduated from basic officer training at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
"Prior to getting assigned to the Hi'ialakai, 16 shipmates and I went through a blended OCS/BOTC military training program along side 80 USCG candidates in New London, Connecticut, for 19 weeks. With the completion of the training, I am now qualified to drive 100-ton ships and certified in Advanced Fire Fighting, CPR/AED/First Aid, Seas Survival, and Fast Rescue Boat."
Betker graduated from MSU in December 2014 with a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering. Her adviser was Susan Masten, professor of civil and environmental engineering.
