Scholarship Program Plants Seeds of Support for New Jersey’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Future
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) awarded its Stew Tweed Fisheries and Aquaculture Scholarships at a special ceremony during Ocean Fun Days at the NJSGC’s headquarters at Sandy Hook on Sunday, May 20th. Now in its fifth year, the scholarship program supports scholars interested in pursuing studies or careers in fisheries or aquaculture.
2012 Stew Tweed Fisheries and Aquaculture Scholarship winners Danielle Beers and Colleen Talty received their awards at a special ceremony held in late May. (l to r) Gail Tweed; Beers; Claire Antonucci, executive director of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium; Talty and Tom Hayes, director of Customer and Community Relations for New Jersey Natural Gas. Credit: Marsha Samuel
Established in 2008 in memory of Stew Tweed, a 27-year veteran of the New Jersey Sea Grant Marine Extension Service, the scholarship program annually awards $1,000 to a graduating high school senior and $1,500 to an undergraduate or graduate student. Receiving the scholarships this year were Danielle Beers, a graduating senior from St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, and a resident of Monroe Township, New Jersey. Beers will study continue her studies this fall at the University of North Carolina – Wilmington where she hopes to pursue a marine biology degree. The second scholarship recipient was Colleen Talty, a rising senior at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey where she is majoring in marine biology. Talty hails from Ringwood, New Jersey and plans to pursue graduate studies in fisheries science management. Gail Tweed, Stew’s widow, was on hand to present the awards to the recipients while their families and other well-wishers looked on.
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-6th), who has presented the scholarships for the past few years but was unable to attend this year’s event, sent letters of recognition to the recipients which were shared at the ceremony. “I knew Stew well, and this scholarship is truly a fitting tribute to his memory,” Pallone wrote. “I hope that this scholarship helps you pursue an education that will allow you to one day be a part of the critical work of fishery and marine science.”
The application period for the 2013 scholarships will reopen in the fall. Interested students can find out more by visiting StewTweed.org.
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is an affiliation of colleges, universities and other groups dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment. NJSGC meets its mission through its innovative research, education and outreach programs. For more information about NJSGC visit njseagrant.org.
