FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2012
GTM RESEARCH RESERVE RECEIVES ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOLS BUSINESS PARTNER AWARD
~School district awards highest honor for work with high school students~
 Students measure the slope of the beach to track seasonal changes in its shape and elevation at the GTM Research Reserve.
PONTE VEDRA
BEACH – The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National
Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM NERR) received
the highest honor for businesses from the St. Johns County School District at the annual Career Academy
Awards on May 17. The Outstanding Business Partner of the Year Award was given in
recognition of GTM NERR’s participation with two high school career
academies: the Academy of Environmental
and Urban Planning and the Academy of Coastal and Water Resources.
"The
GTM Research Reserve team’s work with the Career Academies exemplifies the
reserve’s hands-on approach to science, technology, engineering, and math
(STEM) education”, said GTM NERR Director Dr. Mike Shirley. “Students in the Career Academy programs receive on-the-job exposure to science
careers at the Research Reserve. Our staff and volunteers and the Friends of the GTM Reserve truly appreciate this recognition by our local community."
The Career
Academies emphasize work-based learning opportunities for students and tie
classroom activities to internships with local businesses. Academies are small,
personalized learning communities within a high school that selects a subset of
students. Students enter the program of study through a voluntary process; they
must apply and be accepted with parental knowledge.
Linda
Krepp, Career Specialist at St Johns Technical High School, complimented Dr. Shirley
on his vision as an educational opportunity for the students.
"Thanks
for allowing for some of this learning to take place in your backyard," she said. "We
truly appreciate your partnership."
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