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San Diego’s Ocean Discovery Institute Recognized by White House

Wednesday, 01 February 2012
Contact: Barbara Moreno (619) 686-6216

A Port of San Diego community partner was celebrated on Tuesday, January 31, for the recognition it received from the White House for its mentoring and education programs in the San Diego region.

The San Diego non-profit Ocean Discovery Institute received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in December.

The non-profit is one of only three organizations nationwide that received the award from President Barack Obama.

Port Commissioner Scott Peters and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders were among those that turned out to recognize the Ocean Discovery Institute's achievement at a celebratory event at the Robert Paine Scripps Forum for Science, Society and the Environment in La Jolla. Guests were also given the opportunity to pose with a cardboard cutout of the President.

Ocean Discovery Institute was created 12 years ago to leverage San Diego's natural environments as a means to engage young people from underserved communities and inspire them to become part of the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders. Many of this program's high school graduates go on to earn college degrees.

Ocean Discovery Institute has received $8,300 per year over three years (2009-2012) as part of the Port's school partnership program. They also received $70,000 (2007-2010) through the Port's environmental fund.

"The Port is proud of Ocean Discovery Institute for receiving this outstanding honor," said Commissioner Scott Peters. "It has used Port environmental funds to engage, educate, and inspire young people from urban and diverse backgrounds in San Diego through science-based exploration of the ocean and nature."

Since the environmental fund was established in 2006, the Board of Port Commissioners has approved 62 projects – 43 of which have been completed – and committed $7.3 million to projects aimed at improving the condition of San Diego Bay and surrounding port tidelands.

In December, two former students, Anai Novoa and Ulisses Barraza, travelled to Washington, D.C. where they accepted the award from President Obama on behalf of Ocean Discovery Institute.

"We all have the ability to accomplish all of our dreams," Barraza said of his experience.

Along with the award, Ocean Discovery Institute will receive $25,000 from the National Science Foundation. Funding will be used to further advance mentoring efforts, which includes the development of a "scientist corps" to provide ongoing mentorship for students as they progress from middle school to high school, and on to college and careers.

"We are so honored and proud that our students have demonstrated the passion, perseverance, and achievements necessary to earn this recognition," said Ocean Discovery Institute Executive Director, Shara Fisler. "Our schools can't do it alone. That's why these partnerships are so important."

"Ocean Discovery Institute is something that is unique to the country, and we have it right here in San Diego," Peters said.

The Port of San Diego was created by the state legislature in 1962. Since then, it has invested $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego.

The Port District oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 17 public parks, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.