USM Recognizes 25th Graduating Class of Hydrographic Science Program
Fri, 08/09/2024 - 03:21pm | By: Gabriela Shinskie
The University of Southern Mississippi celebrated its 25th class of Hydrographic Science graduates on August 2 at the Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach, Miss. The world-class program represents a diverse group of 10 graduates from across the globe.
The program is the Joint International Hydrographic Applied Science Program (JIHASP) at USM and is delivered in partnership with the United States Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. The one-year Hydrographic Science program allows graduates to receive a Master of Science degree. Dr. Stephan Howden, Director of the Hydrographic Science Research Center and Professor in the School of Ocean Science and Engineering, acknowledges and congratulates the students’ rigorous work.
“The 2024 recognition ceremony for these graduates celebrated their accomplishments, and highlighted the impact and importance the field of hydrography holds for the nation and the international community,” said Howden.
Since the program’s first graduates in 2000 258 students have graduated, including 73 international students from 37 different countries.
The Hydrographer of the Navy Education Award was presented to Vincent Ceci, who displayed outstanding academic and practice performance.
Hydrographic Science Graduate Candidates Include:
Daniel John Todd
Lieutenant, Royal Australian Navy
B.S. Oceanography and Indonesian, Minor Mathematics, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defense Force, Australia, 2009
Luis Miguel Altamirano Perez
M.S. Ocean Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, 2010
B.S. Physics, St. Norbert College, 2008
Hunish Kumar Mattarooa
Land Surveyor, Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning, Government of Mauritis
Diploma in Land Surveying, University of Mauritius, Mauritius, 2017
MSc Corporate Governance, London South Bank University, U.K., 2010
Bachelor of Laws, University of London, U.K., 2006
Mustafa Kanat
Lieutenant, Turkish Navy
B.S.E. Electrical Engineering, Turkish Naval Academy, Türkiye, 2024
Tiffany Page Engle
Naval Oceanographic Office, Hydrographic Department
B.S. Geology, University of Southern Mississippi, 2017
Vincent Carl Ceci
B.S. Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, 2020
Aliyah Cabell
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center
B.S. Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, 2017
Ginette Marie Atkinson
Lieutenant Commander, Royal New Zealand Navy
M.S. Resource and Environmental Planning, Massey University, New Zealand, 2019
B.S. Geography, University of Otago, New Zealand, 2006
Adebowale Elijah Adedoyin
Graduate Assistant, Division of Marine Science, The University of Southern Mississippi
BSc Surveying and Geoinformatics, University of Lagos, Nigeria, 2018
Musa Bolarinwa Animashaun
Graduate Assistant, Division of Marine Science, The University of Southern Mississippi
B.S. in Surveying and Geoinformatics, University of Lagos, Nigeria, 2019
M.S. in Hydrography, University of Southern Mississippi, 2024
Graduates earning Category “B” Certificates include:
- Landon Matthew Thomas
- Kristopher Kaleb Boudreaux
The program was designed in partnership with the United States Navy to meet the Standards of Competence for Category “A” Hydrographic Surveyors of the International Board of Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC) of the International Federation of Surveyors, International Hydrographic Organization, and the International Cartographic Association. Hydrographers contribute to work affecting everyday life, including ways to provide sustainable uses for oceans, rivers, and lakes. The program highlights hydrographers’ important work in producing sea charts for navigation and exploring ocean environments.
“There are not enough hydrographers to fulfill the demand from industry and government hydrographic offices, and these students are going are going onto, or advance in, a rewarding and highly impactful career,” said Howden.
Learn more about the impact hydrographers make on the Gulf Coast and beyond through USM’s Hydrographic Science Program.