Southern Miss Receives Five-Year Grant Extension for Coastal Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Scholarship

Tue, 09/15/2026 - 09:18am

The University of Southern Mississippi's Coastal Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Scholarship, formerly the Ocean Engineering Entrepreneurship Pathway, has received a five-year grant extension through February 2031, allowing students to continue pursuing a unique accelerated degree program that combines engineering, business and entrepreneurship while supporting Mississippi's growing Blue Economy.

The scholarship covers all tuition and fees for the Master of Business Administration and supports the state's comprehensive regional strategy to establish the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a national leader in ocean science and engineering and maritime technology development, testing, evaluation and training.

The scholarship remains the only program of its kind in Mississippi, combining engineering and business through interdisciplinary coursework, hands-on experience, real-world collaboration and financial support.

The program's first graduate, Glenn Anglada, has already demonstrated the pathway's impact. After completing the program, Anglada applied his knowledge to expand his 3D printing business, Anglada 3-D. He now partners with GRoW Oyster Reefs, a company focused on restoring coastal ecology through nature-inspired reef solutions.

David Turnbull, chief operating officer of GRoW Oyster Reefs, said Anglada's expertise in 3D printing has helped develop effective solutions for artificial reef restoration along the Gulf Coast through innovative prototype molds and designs.

“The most compelling part of this story, from our perspective, is the critical relationship between 3D printing and aquatic ecosystem restoration, specifically as it applies to oysters and the importance of oyster reefs to the Mississippi economy. It may seem counterintuitive that a robust connection exists between the two, but manufacturing reef surrogates at scale demands carefully designed, intricate 3D forms, delivered using 3D printed molds, that provide a stable substrate that attracts and protects young oysters from predators until they become established,” said Turnbull.

Dr. Steven Stelk, finance professor in the College of Business and Economic Development, said the partnership between Anglada 3-D and GRoW Oyster Reefs reflects the program's mission of preparing students to develop innovative business solutions for the state's coastal economy.

“We are happy to see the successful partnership between Anglada 3-D and GRoW Oyster Reefs. This is the kind of outcome the scholarship was designed to foster. We’re excited to see the innovative market solutions our next cohort of students produce for the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy,” said Stelk.

The scholarship was announced in 2019 as part of 15 restoration projects through the RESTORE Act. Funds were distributed by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the U.S. Department of Treasury in the state’s restoration efforts related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Chris Wells, MDEQ executive director, is proud to be a part of this partnership.

“The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is pleased to continue its partnership with The University of Southern Mississippi to support innovation, entrepreneurship and economic opportunity along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. This effort, along with several other successful RESTORE Act-funded projects undertaken in coordination with USM, supports the state’s long-term goal of growing Mississippi’s Blue Economy. MDEQ is proud to support USM as it continues to develop the coastal business leaders of the future,” said Wells.

Find out how to build upon your engineering experience through the Coastal Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Scholarship. Interested students are encouraged to email Steven Stelk for more information.

About the College of Arts and Sciences 
The College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi is home to 13 schools, two ROTC units, and more than 100 academic programs. Guided by the University’s mission, we educate students, lead the state and nation in research and the creative arts, and advance knowledge across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM. Through innovative research and nationally recognized student success, we provide pathways to understanding the past, solving today's challenges, and imagining the possibilities of tomorrow.