R.N. “Dick” Conolly Endowed Scholarship

KELSEY MARTIN, PH.D.

Ph.D. Marine Biology HOMETOWN: Frederick, Maryland RESEARCH GROUP: Fisheries & Ocean Health DISSERTATION: The Role of Artificial Reefs and Natural Banks in the Distribution and Abundance of Economically Important Fishes GRADUATION DATE: Summer 2022

The Connolly Endowed Graduate Scholarship has meant a great deal to my family and me throughout the 2021-22 school year. Graduate school can be very stressful and, typically, financial stress is one of the unfortunate side effects of pursuing higher education. With the support of this scholarship, my financial stress was negated, and I was able to focus on what mattered: completing my Ph.D. As a direct result of the support I have received from this scholarship, and from other scholarships over the years, I successfully defended my Ph.D. and earned my doctorate in August 2022. I am incredibly grateful to all donors who support HRI graduate students and I hope they know the incredible impact they can have on a student's life and education. Although I now turn my sights to my career and joining the NOAA workforce as a research associate, I will never forget the support that I received from HRI and its donors.

R.N. “Dick” Conolly Endowed Scholarship

The R.N. “Dick” Conolly Endowed Graduate Scholarship in Fisheries Conservation and Sportfish Research was established by the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi in honor of R.N. “Dick” Conolly. Dick was an avid sportfish angler and leader in creating the Rotary Club’s Harvey Weil Sportsmanship Conservationist Award Program in honor of his friend and sportfishing companion Harvey Weil. The R.N. "Dick" Conolly Endowed Scholarship assists full-time students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree during a program of study within the research focus areas of fisheries conservation, particularly those in HRI's Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation.

Coastal Conservation Association of Texas Graduate Scholarship Fund

The Coastal Conservation Association of Texas established this scholarship to assist graduate students at HRI pursuing a degree with specific focus on marine resource management. Recipients are expected to contribute, through their research, to the understanding of marine fisheries science and management in the Gulf of Mexico with emphasis on recreational fishing.

JORDANA CUTAJAR, M.S.

M.S. Coastal and Marine System Science

HOMETOWN: Pembroke Pines, Florida RESEARCH GROUP: Coastal Ecosystem Processes THESIS: Spatial-temporal Variability in Phytoplankton Biomass and Community Composition in Texas Residential Canals GRADUATION DATE: Summer 2022

My passion for phytoplankton and coastal waters led me on a journey across the Gulf, from Florida to Texas. During my time at the Harte Research Institute, I was able to follow my curiosity and study residential canals, waterbodies at the intersection of environmental and human health. Completing most of my research during the Covid-19 pandemic was challenging to say the least. However, as we moved out of the pandemic, this scholarship gave me the financial flexibility to finish my thesis and pursue in-person opportunities that had previously been limited. I was able to write my thesis while taking my research to the next level by moving to Charleston, South Carolina in the spring to complete my NOAA Experiential Research Training Opportunity (NERTO) and share my research at conferences. I am extremely grateful for the security the scholarship provided me as I wrapped up my project and prepared to embark on my career in coastal management.

When people ask what’s my favorite part of being a marine biology graduate student and researcher, hands down it’s the ability to see the connection of where hard science supports coastal communities and progress. I think it’s easy to lose sight of the big (bay) picture when working in the (sea) weeds, to see how our research can make a significant impact. With my personal work on oyster reefs and trophic ecology of bay systems, I hope to not only learn more about what organisms live in these locations, what they are eating, and what resources are available to them, I also hope to use this information to inform better management of our bay systems, to identify areas in need of restoration or conservation, to augment these systems so they can be enjoyed for generations to come. The CCA Texas Graduate Scholarship Fund has helped me with these goals by providing me the means to conduct the research and share the information needed to make better management decisions. It is my greatest desire to continue this work and inspire the next generation of scientists to use their passions to help keep our coasts healthy and thriving.

ALYSSA OUTHWAITE, M.S.

Ph.D. Marine Biology

HOMETOWN: Darien, Georgia RESEARCH GROUP: Coastal Conservation & Restoration DISSERTATION: Evaluating the Ecological Role of Estuarine Habitats: An Integrated Community and Trophic Analysis Approach GRADUATION DATE: Fall 2023

JOE KUNTZ

B.S. Marine Biology

HOMETOWN: Plano, Texas RESEARCH GROUP: Fisheries & Ocean Health GRADUATION DATE: Spring 2022

Joining the Harte Research Institute and being a part of the Center of Sportfish Science and Conservation lab has given me wonderful opportunities and allowed me to meet great people. I was able to learn many skills and gain a greater education into the world of fisheries. Through working fishing tournaments, being out in the field, and at a lab bench, I expanded my toolkit and was able to network with other professionals in the field. Thanks to the generosity of the Pedrotti family, I was able to be financially supported in the final year of my studies at HRI. During that time, I was able to conduct research. In the study, I was focused on comparing species diversity of estuarine-dependent nekton between varying locations in Aransas Pass and Packery Channel. Without the assistance from the Pedrotti family, I would not have been able finish my last year of my education and wouldn’t be where I am now.

JENSEN SMITH

M.S. Marine Biology

HOMETOWN: South Lake Tahoe, California RESEARCH GROUP: Fisheries & Ocean Health THESIS: Pending GRADUATION DATE: Pending

I was drawn to the coast for the opportunity to work with sharks and have the potential to pursue a master’s degree. I specifically wanted to work the Harte Research Institute because I knew of the Sportfish Center and what they had to offer. Through my research here I want to eventually study the migratory patterns of specific shark species to begin a conservation game plan. I am so grateful for support from the Pedrotti Endowment because it allowed me to continue to pursue my research. If I could say anything to the Pedrottis, I would tell them thank you from the bottom of my heart, this support means so much to the recipients. Without this support I wouldn’t have been able to achieve a lot of the goals I had set for myself, and I wouldn’t have gotten all the opportunities to work at fishing tournaments, meet new people, and assist in projects involving the lab. I am greatly appreciative of the Pedrotti Family and all that they do for the students here at the HRI.

Dan & Carolyn Pedrotti Endowment for the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation

The Dan and Carolyn Pedrotti Endowment for the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation (CSSC) was established to enhance the mission of the CSSC. It's a mission that is near and dear to the hearts of Dan and Carolyn, both advocates for the practice of anglers giving back to the waters that provide for their recreational enjoyment. The endowment assists top-tier graduate students with tuition and research support as they pursue an education pertaining to sportfish conservation.