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Contact: Shauna Allen, (904) 221-5568 Contact: Maria Mark, (904) 707-3584 Jacksonville, FL– The National Park Service and its official Friends Group, the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation, are proud to announce the first two recipients of $500 research grants from the "Timucuan Preserve Student Research Grant Program," which was newly established through sponsorships at the 2nd annual "Timucuan Science & History Symposium" held in January 2013. This past year's sponsors were the Jacksonville University's Marine Science Research Institute; the University of North Florida President John Delaney; and the University of North Florida's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. To qualify, applicants had to be currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students and submit research project proposals. The purpose of the grant is to provide the student with financial support while conducting research.The two recipients are Ms. Lisa Rowan, Department of Biology, University of North Florida and Ms. Katherine Kara, Department of Biology and Marine Science, Jacksonville University. The final research report must be completed by December 31, 2013, and the students will present their work at the 3rd Annual "Timucuan Science and History Symposium" on January 24, 2014. "At the first Timucuan Science Symposium in 2012 we shared our dream of securing funding for research in the preserve. It was an achievement to announce at the 2013 symposium the establishment of the student research fund thru the Timucuan Trails Park Foundation and the generous sponsors," says Shauna Allen, Timucuan Preserve Chief of Resource Stewardship and Partnerships. "Today it is a dream come true to announce the award of our first two grants helping the next generation of scientists conduct research in our national park." "We are very excited to be able to offer this grant program to support students so they can conduct research in the Timucuan Preserve. There is so much to learn about this complex eco-system, ranging from the biological diversity to the vast historical significance this area holds," says Maria Mark, executive director of TTPF. "It is important that we, as the official Friends Group for our National Park, are a part of this program and to support this needed research. We are grateful to our 2013 sponsors, Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida. Next year, we're hoping to increase the level of sponsors so we can double the number of grants available, which are awarded in $500 or $1000 increments, depending on the sponsorship level." ABOUT TIMUCUAN ECOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC PRESERVE Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve was established in 1988. Its 46,000 acres contain unique natural and cultural resources, including one of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands on the Atlantic Coast. It helps to preserve 6,000 years of human history in Florida, including vestiges of the Timucua Indians, the French colonization at Fort Caroline, the period of Spanish ownership of Florida, and the Kingsley Plantation. ABOUT THE TIMUCUAN TRAIL PARKS FOUNDATION The Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation (TTPF) is the official non-profit support organization for the Timucuan Trail State and National Parks, which comprises the largest urban park system in the United States. Established in 1999 as the Preservation Project Jacksonville non-profit organization, TTPF supports these parks through fundraising, marketing and advocating, but most importantly, by connecting our community to their parks. For more information about TTPF and how you become involved and become a "Friend of the Parks," please visit our website: www.TimucuanTrailParksFoundation.org |
Last updated: April 14, 2015