USM Offers Hands-On Blue Economy Internships for High School Students

Fri, 07/12/2024 - 08:34am | By: Gabriela Shinskie

High school students can dive into the world of coastal research and state-of-the-art technology through The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) GenSea Blue Economy Internships led by the Center for STEM Education. This summer, 17 interns were chosen to explore the world of STEM careers and blue economy pathways.

Dr. Julie Cwikla, Director of the Center for STEM Education, encourages high school students to be inspired and spark curiosity into the world of STEM research and coastal careers.

“Our GenSea Internships allow high school students to take a deep dive into STEM labs and careers, build their resume, and most importantly, learn what career paths are available to them. Scientists and Industry leaders get a look at new talent and have the opportunity to share their wisdom with the next generation. It is a wonderful relationship benefiting everyone involved while supporting the Mississippi coastal economy,” states Cwikla.

Students participate in four-to-six-week sessions across various Southern Miss locations along the Mississippi Gulf Coast with focus on a full range of research areas, including Ocean Engineering at Stennis Space Center in Kiln, Miss.; Hydrography at the Southern Miss Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach, Mis.; and Fisheries Ecology and Aquaculture at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) in Ocean Springs, Miss.

USM partnered with Mississippi State University (MSU) to offer students an opportunity to participate in a Coastal Conservation and Restoration program. The partnership between both universities seeks to offer solutions for coastal resilience, marine debris, and litter. The internship is located at MSU’s Coastal Research and Extension Center (CREC) in Biloxi, Miss. Additionally, the Gulf Islands National Seashore Davis Bayou Branch in Ocean Springs opened its doors to an intern learning about careers in environmental education with the National Park Service.

The 2024 GenSea Blue Economy Interns include:

• Jewel Ronje
  • High School: St. Martin High School; St. Martin, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Fisheries Ecology
• Jeremie Martinez Yamaoka
  • High School: Gautier High School; Gautier, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Finfish Aquaculture
• Annesley ‘Nes’ Daniel
  • High School: Ocean Springs High School; Ocean Springs, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Finfish Aquaculture
• Emberlynn Drongowski
  • High School: Willow Christian Academy (Homeschool); Pascagoula, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Finfish Aquaculture
• Colin Lowe
  • High School: Gautier High School; Gautier, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Environmental Education
• Milea Rice
  • High School: Moss Point High School; Moss Point, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Oyster Aquaculture
• Odalys Garcia
  • High School: Moss Point High School; Moss Point, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Oyster Aquaculture
• Markham Mauffray
  • High School: Long Beach High School; Long Beach, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Hydrography
• Alexander Barczak
  • High School: Madison Central High School; Madison, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Hydrography
• Elaina Barr
  • High School: St. Martin High School; St. Martin, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Hydrography
• Austin Bradley
  • High School: St. Martin High School; St. Martin, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Hydrography
• Beverly Rouse West
  • High School: Biloxi High School, Biloxi, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Ocean Engineering
• Timothy Hudmon
  • High School: Covington High School (Louisiana); Slidell, La.
  • Internship Focus: Ocean Engineering
• Kaylynn Moody
  • High School: Long Beach High School; Long Beach, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Coastal Restoration Outreach & Extension (Mississippi State University)
• Jon Elle Graham
  • High School: St. Martin High School; St. Martin, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Coastal Restoration Outreach & Extension (Mississippi State University)
• Mayah Peterson
  • High School: Gautier High School; Gautier, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Coastal Restoration Outreach & Extension (Mississippi State University)
• Madison Smith
  • High School: Gautier High School; Gautier, Miss.
  • Internship Focus: Coastal Restoration Outreach & Extension (Mississippi State University) 

“My internship experience was great! I was able to work and learn in a field I previously had no idea existed, while meeting new people and making new friends, expressed Barczak. “Working under Mr. Calvin Martin, we learned what hydrographers do and how they do it.”

Calvin Martin, a Hydrographic Science Instructor in the Southern Miss School of Ocean Science and Engineering, is a GenSea Blue Economy Internship Mentor. Martin witnesses interns’ innovation and creativity throughout the program and highly encourages high schoolers to participate.

“As a hydrography mentor with the GenSea program and several years of experience, I have seen first-hand the profound impact of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Center for STEM Education and the GenSea internships. These programs provide high school students with critical hands-on experience and mentorship, igniting their passion for marine science and equipping them with the skills and knowledge to become future leaders in oceanographic research and exploration,” states Martin.

“I loved my experience so much. It was amazing just getting to learn all about aquaculture and the work and research the aquaculture biologist do at USM,” states Drongowski. “Being in this internship really helped me grow professionally and learn about career fields in STEM. Because of this internship, I am now leaning towards pursuing aquaculture as a career.”

“I worked under Dr. Eric Sparks at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center. The work I did was extensive and covered many different topics, all geared toward using science to educate others on how to better the environment. I helped with drone mapping Deer Island for debris, pulling up wave gauges, cleaning out oyster tanks, and many outreach events to educate others on microplastics, reducing food waste, and how every aspect of our community works together to keep everything sound,” expressed Smith. “Overall, this internship has been a great experience and has opened my eyes to many more possibilities for my future.”

GenSea is a collaborative effort led by The University of Southern Mississippi and designed to introduce students to career opportunities in the coastal corridor, managed by the Center for STEM Education and supported generously by the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation.