(SitNews) - Four University of Southeast Alaska Fisheries Technology students graduated, thanks to a scholarship from the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA).

In January, 2015 the SSRAA board of directors indicated interest in supporting the Fisheries Technology (Fish Tech) program with hopes that graduates from the program might enhance the future fisheries workforce. With a generous gift from SSRAA, the Fish Tech faculty created a Program Completion Scholarship aimed at Fish Tech students who were near the completion of a terminal degree.

Left to right: Jim Seeland, Joel Markis, Madalyn Campbell, Richard Shafran, and Fish Tech Program Manager Reid Brewer
Photo courtesy University of Alaska Southeast Fisheries Technology

Reid Brewer, the Fish Tech Program Manager said, “While this scholarship was meant to financially assist students in completing their programs, it’s nice to be able to reward students who have invested in their education, completed most of their coursework and are ready to move into fisheries fields.”

At the UAS Sitka graduation ceremony held on May 1st, Miranda Green, Madalyn Campbell, and Richard Shafran received an AAS in Fisheries Technology and Dale Wainscott received an Occupational Endorsement in Alaska Salmon Enhancement. Each of these students were able to meet their educational goals in part due to the scholarships awarded by the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association.

The Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association works to enhance and rehabilitate salmon production in southern Southeast Alaska and has projects at Burnett Inlet, Crystal Lake, Deer Mountain, Neck Lake, Neets Bay, Whitman Lake and several remote camps.

Bret Hiatt, the Operations Manager for SSRAA said, “Each of our facilities requires employees that understand salmon enhancement and can operate somewhat independently.”

The UAS Fish Tech program offers students an introductory education in Fisheries Management and Alaska Salmon Enhancement that may well serve the needs of private non-profit organizations such as SSRAA by providing the next generation of fisheries employees.

According to the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association, a partnership such as the one between the SSRAA and Fish Tech is a great example of how academics and industry can work together for the future of Alaska.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

University of Alaska Southeast - Sitka
www.usa.alaska.edu/sitka

SitNews ©2015
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper sources. E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.