Grants will support technology clubs, artificial reef surveys, oyster resilience projects
The St. Joe Community Foundation presented checks totaling $194,212 to the FSU Foundation on behalf of three programs housed at Florida State University Panama City on Monday, Sept. 22, in the Holley Academic Center. The programs include ASCENT (Advancing Science and Career Education in New Technologies), the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program, and the Advanced Science Diving Program.
ASCENT will receive $148,968 to leverage matching funds from a Triumph Gulf Coast grant to fund 18 Integrated Technology Clubs and club leadership programs in Bay County’s K-12 schools. In addition, the funds will be used to launch iCamps in Walton County, and to expand Walton’s IT clubs to assist students seeking Career Technical Education (CTE).
“FSU PC is committed to improving the quality of life in the Panhandle, specifically focused on increasing employment and other opportunities in computing and IT professions throughout the region,” said Suzanne Remedies, assistant director of ASCENT. “We are creating and offering new training opportunities for certifications in cybersecurity and data science, as well as increasing the number of CTE certifications throughout our region.”
The St. Andrews and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program, headquartered at FSU Panama City, will receive $26,789 to fund materials for its “Vertical Oyster Gardens,” which includes long-term monitoring and an oyster shell recycling program.
“The project aims to enhance the health of the St. Andrew Bay watershed through innovative citizen science initiatives that focus on restoring native vegetation and increasing oyster populations that will have an overall increase in resilience,” said Jessica Graham, Ph.D., executive director for the Estuary. “By combining ecological restoration with public engagement, the project will not only improve habitat quality and biodiversity in St. Andrew Bay, but also empower local residents—particularly youth—to actively participate in conserving their environment and instilling a sense of pride in place.”
The FSU Panama City Advanced Science Diving Program will receive $18,455 to fund dive boats, fuel, SCUBA gear and technology rentals to conduct three bottom surveys in support of the Army Corps of Engineers. The surveys are necessary for three proposed artificial reef deployment projects.
“Bay County is adding more artificial reefs to improve marine habitats, boost fish populations, and enhance recreational opportunities,” said Mike Davis, FSU PC’s director of dive operations and a retired U.S. Navy captain. “These reefs provide hard structure for fish to thrive in an area with primarily soft, sandy sea floors. They also serve as a fisheries conservation tool, dispersing fishing pressure and promoting healthy fish stocks. Additionally, they can help protect coastlines from erosion and contribute to the local economy by attracting divers and anglers.”
The St. Joe Community Foundation was established in 1999 as a separate entity from the St. Joe Company. The Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 nonprofits in the areas of education, environmental stewardship, building healthier communities and programs that honor the cultural arts. Learn more at Joe.com/community-foundation.
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