PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
U.S. Navy Awards "2009 Women Divers Hall of Fame Scholarships" To
World Ocean Watch Miami Beach Public High School Students.
Celebration Of The Sea Foundation Teams Up With The The U.S. Navy And
Miami Beach High School To Launch Innovative Marine Science Educational Program.
Miami Beach, FL – The City of Miami Beach and The Celebration Of The Sea Foundation announced today that three Miami Beach High School U.S. Navy Cadets were awarded full SCUBA Certification scholarships though the U.S. Navy’s “2009 Women Divers Hall of Fame & Women’s SCUBA Association Training Grants”.
Miami Beach High School students and U.S. Navy cadets Sasha Dyroff (Cadet Petty Officer Third Class), Adriana Chait (Cadet Petty Officer Third Class) and Adrea Orduz (Cadet Seaman) were the lucky recipients of the grants.
“We are proud of our cadets for receiving The 2009 Women Divers Hall of Fame and Women's SCUBA Association Training Grant.” Said U.S. Naval Science Instructor, Ronald Hunter. “All of our cadets who competed for the grants had to write biographies and essays in addition to submitting reference letters in order to be chosen.”
The SCUBA certification is being conducted as part of Miami Beach High School’s new Academy of Marine & Environmental Sciences (AMES) which launched this past September with over 100 students enrolled. AMES was established through the assistance of The Celebration of the Sea Foundation which helped in the development of the program over the past three years as part of its World Ocean Watch Marine Science and Educational Program which is currently being scheduled to be piloted in the Miami School Systems next year.
“Miami Beach Senior High School is delighted to be working closely with The Celebration of the Sea Foundation and the City of Miami Beach to bring innovative marine science and unique educational programs to children in our community.” said Miami Beach High School Principal Dr. Rosanne Sidener. “These unique opportunities are building extraordinary excitement among our students and teachers to learn about the worlds oceans and our environment.”
The AMES SCUBA Club was established to be part of the AMES curriculum and was co-founded by Miami Beach High teacher Becky Salichova and Celebration of the Sea Foundation founder and President, Patxi Pastor who is a certified NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) SCUBA Instructor and NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) Scientific Diver. “We’re thrilled about the U.S. Navy’s support of our program.” said SCUBA Club co-founder Patxi Pastor “We were also delighted that over 100 other Miami Beach High School students have already submitted applications to be chosen for the SCUBA Club next year. Our foundation is particularly interested in encouraging both minorities and young women to pursue careers in science and diving so this made the scholarships extra special for us”.
The City of Miami Beach has a number of other important new environmental initiatives that have been recently launched by the Celebration of the Sea Foundation with public officials and local citizens.
“Our high school cadets who won these SCUBA scholarships are great examples of the growing passion among our students to explore and learn about our local ecological diversity”, said Miami Beach Commissioner Jerry Libbin. “I am delighted at the progress the Celebration of the Sea Foundation has made in helping our community develop innovative environmental and educational programs like AMES and the SCUBA club. This is one example of the fine work of this Foundation and I’m proud to continue to support their initiatives.” To see more on this story online please visit Miami City Debate by Clicking Here.
For more information please contact:
Celebration Of The Sea Foundation
E-Mail: office@celebrationofthesea.org
www.CELEBRATIONOFTHESEAFOUNDATION.org
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