Media
Release
CONTACT:
Kevin
Rabago
(856)
451-3407 FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Emma
Witt
Assistant
Professor of Environmental Studies
(609)
626-6854
STOCKTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN BRIDGETON CITY PARK
It’s the best of both
worlds: students using their skills and knowledge to bring about positive
change in the community while also getting the benefit of hands-on experiential
learning.
As the 2016-2017 academic
year kicks off, students from Stockton University’s Environmental Studies
program will inventory and assess some of the more complex and delicate natural
resources that are part of Bridgeton City Park and the lower Cohansey watershed.
According to Dr. Emma
Witt, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Stockton University, the main
areas of focus will include: evaluating aquatic wildlife resources, terrestrial
and avian wildlife resources; evaluation of water quality in Sunset Lake and watershed,
evaluating the hydrology and water quality in the Cohansey River, and assessment
of forest resources, to name a few.
“This is a great
opportunity for our students to do meaningful and impactful work and I’m very
pleased to be able to partner with the City of Bridgeton to share the type of
technical assistance that Stockton’s programs can provide” said Witt.
Scheduled to begin with
field work on September 20th and 22nd, Witt plans to have
students organize into teams to work in each specific area of focus over the
course of the semester.
For Bridgeton Mayor Albert
Kelly, the involvement of Stockton University and the incoming students
represent the types of partners and relationships that have a major impact on a
community poised for revitalization.
“I’m delighted that
Stockton University has chosen to make Bridgeton a type of working classroom
for their students. This is something I have been promoting for some time now.
It is a winning collaboration; we get the benefit of their knowledge, energy,
and talent and the students get to do important work that will benefit
thousands of residents as well as themselves,” said Kelly.
According to Dr. Peter
Straub, Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Stockton University, the
Bridgeton-Stockton connection represents a natural extension of student-related
public service that the university encourages throughout South Jersey.
“Focusing our
Environmental Sciences program on Bridgeton is a way to help the Bridgeton
community inventory and assess some of their outstanding natural resources. At
the same time, public service-related efforts also help Stockton University
understand and respond to the unique challenges facing communities throughout
our service region” said Straub.
In addition to their field
work, students will prepare final reports outlining their findings, analyses,
and recommendations- these results will be presented to City officials at the
close of the semester in December.
“I commend Stockton
University on the innovative way they engage with the communities they serve.
I’m also appreciative of Dean Straub, Professor Witt and especially the
students, who will bring their energy, talent, and forward-looking perspectives
to some of the challenges facing Bridgeton,” said Kelly.
# # #
To
learn more about the City of Bridgeton, please visit www.cityofbridgeton.com
To learn more about Stockton University, please visit www.stockton.edu