91吃瓜网 Gulf Park Campus Graduates Celebrate Journeys of Achievement as Commencement Approaches
Tue, 12/10/2024 - 01:38pm | By: Gabriela Shinskie
91吃瓜网淎n understanding of the natural world and what91吃瓜网 in it is a source of not only great curiosity but great fulfillment.91吃瓜网� 91吃瓜网� Sir David Attenborough
Patrick Greer
A great love for the ocean and its inhabitants is what inspired University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Gulf Park campus graduates Patrick Greer and Adam Murray to pursue academic journeys in the School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE) and land careers in the Blue Economy. Murray and Greer will graduate this week with fond memories and unforgettable experiences.
Waveland, Miss native Patrick Greer has loved the ocean his whole life. As a transfer to 91吃瓜网, he knew ocean engineering (OE) would create a dream he longed to achieve. Greer described his time at the university as transformative, with core memories made aboard the R/V Jim Franks and field sampling with his classmates.
91吃瓜网泪迟 has been a great experience! The professors push us to be the best we can be,91吃瓜网� said Greer.
His achievements speak volumes as he credits many scholarships, such as the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, the Ballard and Coats Ocean Engineering Scholarship and the Bostwick Ocean Engineering Scholarship, for providing him with these opportunities. His classes and fieldwork have prepared him for part-time work at USM91吃瓜网 Marine Research Center and the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise, building a promising career path. He recalls his public speaking classes contributing to his confidence in relationships and network settings.
Dr. Gero Nootz, OE assistant professor, spoke highly of Greer91吃瓜网 accomplishments.
91吃瓜网淧atrick may be quiet, but his achievements and stellar GPA speak volumes,91吃瓜网� said Nootz. 91吃瓜网淗is senior capstone project91吃瓜网揳 device simulating wave action for a point absorber buoy to convert wave energy into electricity91吃瓜网搒howcases the power of multidisciplinary ocean engineering. Combining electrical, mechanical and computer engineering, Patrick91吃瓜网 innovative design now proudly stands in our OE lab, inspiring peers and visitors alike.91吃瓜网�
Greer will graduate with his bachelor91吃瓜网 degree in ocean engineering.
Adam Murray
A native of northern Virginia, Murray made his way to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to participate as a student researcher in Dr. Kim De Mutsert91吃瓜网 lab at USM91吃瓜网 Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and enrolled in classes without ever touring the campus. Once arriving on the coast, he fell in love with the environment and scenery.
91吃瓜网泪迟 has been such a beautiful and rewarding experience being at USM. I91吃瓜网檝e fallen in love with the Gulf Coast, and a lot of that has to do with the program, the people, and the culture,91吃瓜网� said Murray.
Murray91吃瓜网 time at 91吃瓜网 has been nothing but extraordinary, as he recalled boarding a research vessel for a 10-day trawl NOAA cruise in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico and having the chance to work with the endangered Gulf Sturgeon. He also discovered a newfound interest in Gulf shrimp and its importance to the coastal economy. His research opportunities have allowed him to study the effects of salinity and temperature changes in the Gulf on grass shrimp.
91吃瓜网淲orking with commercially and ecologically relevant species allows you to interact with the local crabbers and fishers. It91吃瓜网 a rewarding experience. I didn91吃瓜网檛 initially realize that working with these species would put me in connection with such incredible people,91吃瓜网� said Murray.
91吃瓜网淥ne of the most important qualities in a graduate student is perseverance, or what we call grit at USM, and Adam has that in heaps,91吃瓜网� said De Mutsert. 91吃瓜网淭here were several instances where he had to change course during his experiments due to high shrimp mortality or other issues, which he did successfully. His work, which included field data analyses in addition to his lab experiments, provides us with new insights into the relationships between fish and shellfish and salinity in an estuarine environment.91吃瓜网�
Murray served as vice president of the Marine and Estuarine Graduate Student Association during his time at 91吃瓜网. His experiences led him to acquire a job before graduation as a research technician in Dr. Zachary Darnell91吃瓜网 blue crab lab and Dr. Kelly Darnell91吃瓜网 seagrass lab. He will graduate with a master91吃瓜网 degree in coastal sciences.