Hydrography Students Graduate from Southern Miss Department of Marine Science

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Marine Science recognized the 2008 master's degree in hydrographic science graduates on July 30 at a ceremony at John C. Stennis Space Center.

The Department of Marine Science works in cooperation with the U.S. Navy to provide the hydrographic science master's degree program to students. Through the partnership, the program meets the category A certification requirements by the Féderation Internationale des Géométres/International Hydrographic Organization International Advisory Board. Southern Miss is the only educational institution in the United States to offer a master's degree in hydrographic science that is certified at the category A level by the FIG/IHO.

"This was an exceptional class," said Dr. Steve Lohrenz, chair of the Department of Marine Science. "I learned a lot from them and I hope they also learned from me. It is a strong class."

The 2008 graduates are Dean Battilana of Carnes, Australia; Jessica Burt of Slidell, La.; Travis Clem of Mandeville, La.; Michael Gonsalves of Bay St. Louis; Bryan Mensi of Picayune; Megan Palmer of Baltimore Md.; Kimberly Collins Pevey of Biloxi; Mike Redmayne of Slidell, La.; Max Salazar of Slidell, La.; and Carlos Zapata of Tuayaquil, Ecuador.

During the ceremony, Battilana was presented the prestigious Hydrographer of the Navy award by Rear Admiral David Titley, Commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. Pevey was recognized as the recipient of the Tenix LADS Inc. Scholarship. Tenix LADS Inc., Australia's largest defense and applied technology company, leads the world in the supply of airborne laser bathymetry survey services.

For more information about the Southern Miss Department of Marine Science, visit http://www.usm.edu/marine or call 228.688.3177.

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The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Marine Science recognized the 2008 master's degree in hydrographic science graduates on July 30 at a ceremony at John C. Stennis Space Center. The graduates are from left, Carlos Zapata of Tuayaquil, Ecuador; Dean Battilana of Carnes, Australia; Mike Redmayne of Slidell, La.; Megan Palmer of Baltimore Md.; Jessica Burt of Slidell, La.; Travis Clem of Mandeville, La.; and Max Salazar of Slidell, La. Graduates not pictured are Michael Gonsalves of Bay St. Louis, Bryan Mensi of Picayune and Kimberly Collins Pevey of Biloxi. (Southern Miss Public Relations photo by Charmaine Williams)