Students, faculty, and staff of the University of Delaware Graduate College of Marine Studies (CMS) were recognized for their accomplishments at Honors Day ceremonies held Friday, May 5, at the Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes. Dean Carolyn A. Thoroughgood presided over the ceremonies and along with associate dean Nancy M. Targett, presented awards to the recipients. Mrs. Joanne Currier Daiber, the first female marine scientist hired by the University in 1951, was the guest speaker.
Now in its 30th year, CMS is a graduate college whose mission is to advance the knowledge, wise use, and conservation of global, estuarine, and coastal ocean environments through a program of excellence in research, teaching, and service. Students specialize in one of four program areas -- marine biology- biochemistry, marine policy, oceanography, or physical ocean science and engineering -- but gain a working knowledge of each area through interdisciplinary study and hands-on research designed to prepare them for careers in academia, industry, and public service. CMS also serves as home to the University of Delaware Sea Grant College Program, a partnership among federal and state governments, universities, industry, and the public, focused on the wise use, conservation, and management of marine and coastal resources.
Alison R. Sipe, M.S. graduate in marine biology-biochemistry, received the E. Sam Fitz Award, recognizing the CMS student who has displayed the greatest aptitude for professional development in the field of marine studies.
Frances Severance Academic Council Awards for the best thesis or dissertation within a program area were awarded to Sandra M. Schwalm, thesis in marine biology-biochemistry; Porter Hoagland III, dissertation in marine policy; and David T. Ruppel, thesis in oceanography. Evelia Rivera-Arriaga, doctoral student in marine policy, received the Center for the Study of Marine Policy Award for the best research paper by a student in marine policy. Functioning within CMS, the center focuses on legal, political, and economic marine issues. Lexia M. Valdes, doctoral student in marine biology- biochemistry, received the Thomas H. Hinkle Award in recognition of her research involving Delaware's Inland Bays.
Publications Awards went to Timothy E. Proseus, M.S. graduate in marine biology-biochemistry, for "Separating Growth from Elastic Deformation During Cell Enlargement," co-authored by Drs. Joseph Ortega and John S. Boyer, and published in Plant Physiology; and Susan A. Welch, Ph.D. graduate in oceanography, for "The Effect of Microbial Glucose Metabolism on Bytownite Feldspar Dissolution Rates Between 5° and 35° C," co-authored by Dr. William J. Ullman, and published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.
Katherine A. Bouton, Ph.D. graduate in marine policy, received the Marvin B. Sussman Prize, presented to a Ph.D. graduate of the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy whose dissertation is judged to be the most outstanding in its theoretical formulation or empiricism. Ursula A. Howson, doctoral student in marine biology-biochemistry, received an award for the best student presentation from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the American Fisheries Society for a paper co-authored by Dr. Timothy E. Targett, titled "Ecology of Summer and Southern Flounder in the South Atlantic Bight."
Privately endowed fellowships were presented to the following students: Magdalena D. Anguelova, doctoral student in oceanography; Kevin L. Stierhoff, master's student in marine policy; and Andrea L. Geiger, incoming master's student in marine policy, were awarded Marian R. Okie Fellowships based on academic and research excellence and demonstrated leadership abilities. Nicole B. Lopanik, doctoral student in marine biology-biochemistry, received the Dr. Paul R. Austin Sea Grant Student Fellowship, granted on the basis of academic and research excellence in the field of biochemistry. Gerhard F. Kuska, master's student in marine policy, received the Gerald and Frances L. Bow Fellowship.
CMS Program Fellowships were granted to a master's student in each CMS program on the basis of academic accomplishments. Recipients for 1999-2000 are Christine A. Calverley, marine policy; Katherine M. Achilles, oceanography, and Elias J. Hunter, physical ocean science and engineering.
Robin M. Tyler, doctoral student in marine biology-biochemistry, received a University Tuition Scholarship. University Competitive Fellowships were presented to Christine A. Calverley, master's student in marine policy, and Michael M. Whitney, doctoral student in oceanography. Michael B. Jones and Lexia M. Valdes, doctoral students in marine biology-biochemistry were awarded President's Fellowships for academic and research accomplishments.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Traineeships/Fellowships in Coastal Oceanography have been awarded to twelve students. The master's students include Olivia A. Hauser (1998-2001); Alexander E. Parker (1999-2000); Allison Y. Beauregard, Linda C. Popels, and Frances M. Pustizzi (1999-2001); and Benjamin R. Wheeler II (2000-2001). The doctoral students include Maria G. Honeycutt (1995-1997, 1999-2000), Cecily C. Natunewicz (1995-2000), Matthew C. Schwartz (1996-1998), Carol D. Janzen (1996-2000), Michael M. Whitney (1998-2000), and Susan Park (1998-2001).
Many students received special recognition from various organizations. Alison R. Sipe, M.S. graduate in marine biology-biochemistry, and Kirstin M. Ferrari, master's student in marine biology- biochemistry, received Delaware Sea Grant student awards in recognition of research excellence in the Delaware Sea Grant College Program. Maria G. Honeycutt, doctoral student in oceanography, received a Mitigation Directorate Award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for contributions above and beyond the call of duty on the Hurricane George field damage assessment and Building Assessment Team Report. Kevin L. Stierhoff, master's student in marine biology-biochemistry, received a research scholarship from the Delaware Mobile Surf Fishermen in support of his project related to the effects of low dissolved oxygen on the feeding, growth, and survival of juvenile estuarine fishes. Nicole B. Lopanik, doctoral student in marine biology-biochemistry, received a research award from Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, to fund her research on the tropical sponge Callyspongia vaginalis.
Carrie Y. Kopin, master's student in marine biology-biochemistry, was named a NOAA graduate research fellow in the National Estuarine Research Reserve Fellowship Program. Susan Park, doctoral student in oceanography, was selected as a participant for the 2000 Summer Institute in Korea by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation. Ursula A. Howson was awarded a National Research Council Fellowship for postdoctoral work at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory, in Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
Carole A. Di Meo and Nicole B. Lopanik, doctoral students in marine biology-biochemistry, were recognized for organizing the First Graduate Symposium on Marine Policy and Science. The Epifanio Research Group was awarded second place in the Lewes Boat Parade.
Faculty also were recognized for their teaching and research. John S. Boyer, professor of marine biology-biochemistry, received the coveted University of Delaware 1999 Francis Alison Award in recognition of his outstanding academic contributions to the University and to his profession. Mohsen Badiey, professor of oceanography, was elected a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America for his "contributions to the understanding of the effect of sediment properties on shallow-water sound propagation." George W. Luther III, professor of oceanography, was elected to the editorial board and was named associate editor for Geochemical Transactions. Luther also was elected as an alternate councilor to represent the Geochemistry Division of the American Chemical Society.
The following CMS staff also were honored. David A. Barczak, art director, and Tracey L. Bryant, marine outreach coordinator, earned Professional Staff Merit Awards. Rita Baty, office coordinator, and Jacqueline Bijansky, staff assistant, received Salaried Staff Merit Awards.
Tracey L. Bryant, marine outreach coordinator, received the Communications Contest Award in advertising and individual achievement from the National Federation of Press Women. The production team of David A. Barczak, art director; Tracey L. Bryant, marine outreach coordinator; and Pamela L. Donnelly, production manager; was honored with four awards in the Delaware Press Association's 1999 First State Communications Contest and three awards in the Society for Technical Communication's 1999 Publications Competition for the following projects: Boating in Delaware's Inland Bays: Tips for Protecting the Environment, University of Delaware Marine Programs 1998-1999, University of Delaware Sea Grant Reporter newsletter, University of Delaware Sea Grant Reporter Special Issue 1999, and 1999 Coast Day Poster. The production team also received an Excellence Award in the Society for Technical Communication's International Technical Publications Competition for the University of Delaware Sea Grant Reporter Special Issue 1999.