Gulf Pine Catholic

14 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 13, 2019 Spotlight on Schools The Saint Stanislaus Sailing Team won their fifth consecutive Mississippi State Championship and simul- taneously won the Gulf Coast Fleet Racing Championships at Gulfport Yacht Club on November 9. Sailors competed in three different boats: an “FJ” or Flying Junior, a Vanguard Club 420, and a Laser. Junior skipper, Michael Burns, won the Laser division, plac- ing first in all races. The junior skipper from OLA, Claire Housey, with crew Addy Altese, Ashley Hilton, and Alexandra Bujan, won the FJ division, placing first or second in all races. Senior skipper Joshua Grumme garnered two firsts and a second to solidify a solid third-place title for the 420 division rotating the skipper position with seniors William Diaz, Graham Kalom, and Junior Joel Grumme. The combined team consis- tently placed well in the remaining races. Crewing were Robert Cabell and Lane Burroughs in that division. Members of the sailing team also include William Ascherl, Logan Boyanton, Ruston Breisacher, C.T. Ilgenfritz, and Jeremy Reddoch. St. Stanislaus College, Bay St. Louis Saint Stanislaus marine science students continue to contribute to the coastal environment of Mississippi through a variety of projects and initiatives, such as oyster gardening and nurdle hunting. Non-commercial oyster aquaculture, better known as oyster gardening, is a program that works to aid in the restoration of oyster reefs. Oyster reef restoration leads to improved water quality, reduction of coastal erosion, and habitats for over 300 species of fish and invertebrates. In 2017, the Saint Stanislaus Marine Science program connected with the Mississippi Oyster Gardening Program (MOGP) and remains a vital member. Over the last three years, Saint Stanislaus marine science students have grown over 17,000 oysters. Oysters are later collected and planted on restoration reefs in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDR). Each week, marine science students clean (of sediment and algae) and measure the oysters in addition to recording the data on-site. Throughout the oyster gardening season, students maintain, record, and observe the oysters growing and changing. “Oyster gardening allows for students to be good stewards of their environment,” says Rayne Palmer, Mississippi Oyster Gardening Program Coordinator. While oys- ter gardening is a significant initiative for the Saint Stanislaus marine science pro- gram, students also participate in a variety of other fieldwork, programs, and proj- ects. Saint Stanislaus is the only school in Mississippi that provides a unique environ- ment for students to engage in marine science fieldwork on campus. Just last year, the Saint Stanislaus Marine Science program joined forces with the University of Texas Austin in their Nurdle Patrol project. A nurdle is considered a microplastic form of marine debris that is found washed up on beaches worldwide. To date, Saint Stanislaus marine science students have collected over 23,000 nurdles on campus alone. With a slogan of “it only takes two hands,” the Saint Stanislaus Marine Science program hopes to continue its mission in the conservation of marine life, one oyster garden, and nurdle, at a time.