Graduate Students Earn Fellowships from Sebastian Inlet Sportfishing Association

MELBOURNE, FLA. — The Sebastian Inlet Sportfishing Association (SISA) has awarded $1,000 SISA Continental Shelf Fisheries and Oceanography Graduate
Fellowships to Florida Tech students Nancy Sloan and Kyle Brown. Selection was based on a one-page essay and academic record.

Sloan, who earned a master’s degree in environmental science from the university, is currently working on her doctoral degree in that field. Brown is
pursuing a master’s degree in oceanography, focusing on coastal zone management.

The students’ research pertains to areas that impact sportfishing in Sebastian Inlet. These areas may include aspects of water quality, weather
forecasting, artificial reefs and fisheries management.

The new fellowship was created by a collaboration among SISA, George Maul, Ph.D., head of Florida Tech’s Department of Marine and Environmental Systems;
Nikki Hoier, associate director, Professional Development Programs; and the Office of Development.

The SISA is one of the oldest clubs of its kind on the Central East Florida coast and has supported Florida Tech marine research projects for more than 10
years.

Florida Tech’s Department of Marine and Environmental Systems (DMES) offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in Environmental Science, Earth Remote
Sensing, Meteorology, Ocean Engineering, and Oceanography. DMES faculty are very active in research, annually spending about $1,000,000 from contracts and
grants. About half of this goes to support the education of graduate students.