Bow Seat Supports Florida Marine Ecology Expedition Scholarship
December 3, 2019

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs is excited to announce a partnership with Ocean Matters, a marine science leadership program, to provide one full scholarship ($3,500 value) to an Ocean Awareness Contest applicant from Florida to participate in Ocean Matters’ Florida Marine Ecology Expedition, June 19-29, 2020!

The Ocean Matters Florida Marine Ecology Expedition combines five days with Clearwater Marine Aquarium on the west coast of Florida with another five days in Key Largo with the Coral Restoration Foundation on the east coast, giving teens a broad experience of the integrated issues impacting the watershed and ocean. Students will earn open water scuba certification; participate in a coral restoration project; learn about manatee, turtle, and dolphin conservation from researchers in the field; and gain skills to make a difference in our changing world.

The applicant must apply to both Bow Seat’s 2020 Ocean Awareness Contest with a piece of art (visual art, film, music, poetry, prose, or interactive & multimedia) that addresses this year’s theme of “Climate Hope: Transforming Crisis,” and to the Ocean Matters Florida Marine Ecology Expedition to be considered. You need not win an award in the Ocean Awareness Contest, however, to be awarded this need-based scholarship for the Ocean Matters expedition.

“I got to help fix what was falling apart.” — Josh F., Florida Marine Ecology Expedition 2019

How to Apply to the Scholarship & Deadlines

To be eligible for this need-based scholarship, students must submit to the Ocean Awareness Contest with a piece of original art and opt-in to the Ocean Matters Award on the submission form by March 1, 2020, AND apply separately to Ocean Matters by March 15, 2020. The Ocean Matters Award recipient will be notified by April 1, 2020.

Get started here >

Rules & Eligibility

  • Students must be a resident of Florida, currently enrolled in high school, and at least 15 years old by the start of the program.
  • Students must be able to swim 200 yards comfortably and tread water for 10 minutes to be able to participate in the Florida Marine Ecology Expedition.
  • Students must submit to Bow Seat’s Ocean Awareness Contest and opt-in to the Ocean Matters Award on the submission form by March 1, 2020.
  • Students must apply separately, and be admitted, to the Ocean Matters Florida Marine Ecology Expedition program by March 15, 2020. Eligible students must demonstrate merit and need on the Ocean Matters application to be considered for the scholarship.
  • While it is our policy not to share email addresses with third parties, students who opt in to this award agree to have their email address shared with the Ocean Matters team solely for the purposes of this scholarship.
  • Student submissions (Visual Art, Film, Interactive & Multimedia, Music, Poetry, or Prose) to the Ocean Awareness Contest will be reviewed by the Ocean Matters Award selection committee. Students who do not receive the Ocean Matters Award are still eligible to earn a prize in the Ocean Awareness Contest.
  • The award winner will be required to complete Bow Seat’s Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release.
  • The full program scholarship includes all scuba equipment and certification, instruction, food, lodging, and materials. Travel to and from home to Clearwater, FL, is not included.
  • The award winner agrees to write a blog post about their Ocean Matters experience for publication on the Bow Seat blog.

Questions & Contact

For questions about applying for this scholarship, please contact [email protected]. For more information about the Ocean Matters Florida Marine Ecology Expedition, visit oceanmatters.org or contact [email protected]. All scuba-related questions should be directed to [email protected].

Please help us spread the word about this amazing opportunity for a Florida teen!

About Ocean Matters: Ocean Matters supports young people in becoming stewards for the marine environment. Ocean Matters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by luminaries in conservation including National Geographic underwater photographer Brian Skerry and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary.

Share News

Bow Seat Supports Florida Marine Ecology Expedition Scholarship

Comments are closed for this post.