Investing in Florida’s Future
We also participate in the operation of the Aylesworth Foundation for the Advancement of Marine Science, which Ralph and Kitty formed in 1984. The foundation’s mission is based upon the belief that scientific knowledge in marine related areas coupled with decisions based on environmental and conservation factors will prove to be the only way to develop, utilize and manage our renewable marine resources on a long-term basis. The Foundation funds research grants, participates in the growth of marine educational projects and funds scholarships to Florida students. The scholarship program is a joint effort of the Aylesworth Foundation, the Southeastern Fisheries Association, and the Florida Sea Grant college Program. To date, more than 100 students representing fourteen Florida universities have received scholarships totaling nearly $600,000. The Foundation has also partnered with other similarly focused institutions to provide financial support for the Florida Aquarium, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Mote Marine, and Madeira Beach Middle School. In cooperation with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Foundation partnered with the Environmental Careers Organization to fund salaries of aspiring scientists in an internship program with the water management district. The foundation also contributed $100,000 toward the construction of an Aquatic Food Products Lab at the University of Florida for the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. To date, the foundation has donated nearly a million dollars to the marine community.
To apply for an Aylesworth scholarship and to check the latest scholarship deadlines, visit the “Students” tab at the Florida Sea Grant website, www.flseagrant.org, and click “Scholarships/Fellowships”.