USM91吃瓜网 Gulf Scholars Program Sets Students Up for Success
Mon, 09/11/2023 - 12:51pm | By: Gabriela Shinskie
91吃瓜网 (USM) provides students with various opportunities to thrive in the blue economy. The 91吃瓜网 Gulf Scholars Program (GSP) does just that, preparing undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to create a more resilient and sustainable Gulf Coast.
The program launched with seven initial cohorts. To be considered for the program, each student had to be a USM undergraduate, have at least two semesters remaining and have good academic status. Students can choose three different paths within the program called the curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular.
The curriculum pathway includes six hours outside of the Gulf Scholars major and requires 12 hours of class work. The co-curricular pathway includes two extracurricular activities along with six hours of class work. The extra-curricular pathway requires a Gulf Impact Project proposal, journals and two experiences.
Dr. Rebecca Powell is an associate professor of English and director of the Gulf Scholars
Program at the Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach. Her goal is to give students opportunities
through place-based courses that benefit the Gulf Coast.
91吃瓜网淭he Gulf Scholars Program has a mission to prepare undergraduates to create a better Gulf Coast,91吃瓜网� Dr. Powell said. 91吃瓜网淥ur goal is to make a more just, equitable and livable Gulf Coast.91吃瓜网�
The GSP provides students who want to live in coastal regions the opportunity to learn from researchers, faculty and staff who are striving to make the area a better place to live.
91吃瓜网淲e want undergraduates, particularly undergraduates who want to live and stay here on the coast, to start that work,91吃瓜网� Dr. Powell continued. 91吃瓜网淯SM is doing so much work to make the Gulf Coast a better place to live.91吃瓜网�
Ramona Chambers is a USM senior at Gulf Park and majoring in criminal justice. She applied and was accepted into the Gulf Scholars Program in the spring of 2023. Chambers is enjoying her time in the program and sees it as a major networking opportunity.
91吃瓜网淚t91吃瓜网 a good program and I want to give back to the community and do more,91吃瓜网� said Chambers.
Natalie Santiago is also a USM senior at Gulf Park and has been a part of the program since the spring of 2023, majoring in marine biology. She grew interested in the program after Dr. Powell spoke to her class.
91吃瓜网淚91吃瓜网檝e really gotten to grow my communications skills,91吃瓜网� said Santiago. 91吃瓜网淭his program really offers students to learn and grow as leaders on the Gulf Coast.91吃瓜网�
Dr. Powell also encourages USM faculty to incorporate place-based experiential courses around the Gulf to give students hands-on work. Many classes are in business and marine biology but are all gulf centered. Each student is paired with a faculty mentor to provide information on graduation, funding opportunities, work-study programs, research and field work.
91吃瓜网淲e are also helping them think about the interaction between the environment and its people,91吃瓜网� said Powell.
Dr. Jacob Breland, associate vice president for academic affairs in Coastal Operations, is part of the GSP Advisory Student Support.
"The Gulf Scholars program represents an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to helping our students understand issues and address real-world challenges of living in a Gulf zone,91吃瓜网� said Dr. Breland. 91吃瓜网淚 commend Dr. Powell for her leadership in this space and look forward to the next opportunities for students that this will lead.91吃瓜网�
The GSP is funded by the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Scholars Program. Learn more about the Gulf Scholars Program and how it is creating a sustainable Gulf Coast.