ARCS Foundation Tampa Bay announces the Gulf Oil Spill First Responders will receive the STEM Catalyst Collaborative Partnerships Award.

Tampa, FL (January 27, 2013): ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists)  Tampa Bay  announces the Gulf Oil Spill First Responders will receive the STEM Catalyst Collaborative Partnerships Award at the Awards Dinner on February 9, 2013 at the Hilton St. Petersburg at Carillon Park.


The first responders lead by Dr. William Hogarth were responsible to collect the necessary samples for monitoring and assessment for the National Resources Damage Assessment. Under Dr. Hogarth’s direction and in conjunction with the United States Coast Guard, Florida Wildlife Resource Commission and Fisheries, the National Marine Fisheries Services, the University of South Florida, Eckerd College, and other Florida Institute Oceanography (FIO) institutions, the monitoring of the waters was initiated.

The funding was not initially provided for long term monitoring, but based on our results we felt strongly that to protect Florida’s valuable marine resources the sampling research and monitoring needed to be continued.  However, through the efforts of Dr. Karen Holbrook and USF Research Foundation, funds were provided to continue the critical sampling of the oil distributions, the location of the loop current, and monitoring toxicity of the oil and dispersant to marine organisms. 
 
“We are pleased to honor the 25 First Responders representing 7 organizations for the STEM Catalyst Collaborative Partnership Award.” stated Linda Seefeldt, President of ARCS Foundation Tampa Bay.  “In addition, we are delighted to honor the Gulf Oil First Responder Media that provider exemplary coverage of the the Gulf Oil Spill with the Collaborative Media Certificate - 27 journalists from 18 organizations.  Totaling - 52 people and 25 organizations making a huge difference!”
The STEM Catalyst Collaborative Partnerships Award honors a diverse, multi-disciplinary group - individuals and/or organizations - who partnered in a STEM initiative, with a major positive impact on our communities.

The STEM Catalyst Awards purpose are to reinforce the results and impact of STEM initiatives in our communities, to encourage STEM focus partnerships between and among public & private entities, to recognize multidisciplinary partnerships and collaborations that focus on the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine) and to expand awareness and engage people in ARCS Foundation that provides scholar awards to college scientists.

Ms. Seefeldt stated “ It was previously announced that Dr. Peter Betzer will be awarded the STEM Visionary Catalyst Award.  This will be presented by Progress Energy, with specials tributes from Congressman Bill Young, Curtis Carlson, CEO of SRI International, USF College of Marine Science and Lawrence University.  At the dinner, we will also announce the recipients of the awards for STEM Economic Driver Award and STEM Innovation and Research Award.  We are impressed with the high caliber of talented people who are working together in Tampa Bay Florida to impact lives across the world.”

ARCS Foundation is please to host these awards along with our sponsors; Ameriprise Financial, Progress Energy, Draper Laboratory, SRI International, and St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.  We invite those individuals and organizations that are interested in advancing science in America to join us on February 9.  Register online.

About ARCS Foundation
ARCS Foundation advances science and technology in the United States by providing financial awards to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering and medical research. In over 50 years of its existence, the National ARCS Foundation, Inc. has provided $83 million in over 14,000 Scholar Awards.
ARCS Foundation in Florida is committed to enriching the quality of life in Florida by attracting outstanding scholars who are completing graduate degrees in Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program at Moffitt in the College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Marine Science, at University of South Florida.
Recognized as a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation, the corporation is registered as ARCS Foundation – Tampa Bay. Registration CH31924. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free 1-800-435-7352 within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state.
100% Donor Contributions go to ARCS Scholars.


The Gulf Oil Spill First Responder:
Dr. William Hogarth - USF/FIO

University of South Florida:
President Judy Genshaft, 
Provost Ralph Wilcox, 
Dr. Karen Holbrook, Vickie Chachere,
 Dr. Ernst Peebles, 
Dr. David Hollander, Kara Radabaugh, 
Dr. Robert Weisberg, Dr. Chuanmin Hu, Dr. John Paul, 
Dr. David Naar, 
Ethan Goddard, Dr. Kendra Daly, 
Dr. Andrew Remsen

Florida Wildlife Resource Commission
Gil McRae-FWRI

United States Coast Guard


Eckerd College
Dr. David Hastings


NOAA
Dr. Steve Murawski

Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO)

Brendon Baumeister, 
David Coy, Thomas Lee, George Guthro, Robert Walker, William Slee

Exemplary Reporting on the Gulf Oil Spill:

There are 27 people representing 18 news organizations.

National media: 

Associated Press: Cain Burdeau, Seth Borenstein, Mitch Stacy, Tamara Lush and Matt Brown.

National Public Radio: Diane Rehm and Denise Couture

Lehrer NewsHour: Tom Bearden

The Weather Channel staff

McClatchy News: Renee Schoof

CNN: John Couwels

ABC News – Diane Mendez

NBC News – Kristin Dahlgren

Changing Seas –  WPBT-Miami – Alexa Elliot and Jeremy Nicholson



Local television stations

WTSP – Kathryn  Bursch

WTVT – Laura Moody and Steve Nichols

WFTS – Carson Chambers

WFLA – Mark Douglas

Bay News 9 – Joey Johnson

WUSF – Mark Schreiner, Bobbie O’Brien and Steve Newborn



Florida newspapers: 

Tampa Bay Times – Craig Pittman

Palm Beach Post – Christine Stapleton

Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Kate Spinner