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January 16, 2001 was
a day of dignitaries’ visits and children’s enthusiasm as the Dauphin
Island Sea Lab became the nation’s 13th
Coastal America Ecosystem Learning Center. This prestigious designation
was commemorated in a luncheon reception, which included Congressman Sonny
Callahan; Major General Hans A. Van Winkle, Director of Civil Works; Army
Corps of Engineers, and a host of other representatives from Coastal
America’s federal partners.
"The Coastal America partnership was established by President
George Bush in 1992 in order to more effectively and efficiently protect
and restore our nation’s coastal resources by combining federal
expertise and resources with those of state and local agencies and
nongovernmental organizations," said Virginia Tippie, Director of
Coastal America.
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Third grade students from Dauphin Island
Elementary school help unveil the Sea Lab’s official Coastal Ecosystem
Learning Center plaque. Adults behind the students (l-r) Marine Educator
Grant Craig (in starfish costume); Coastal America Executive Director
Virginia Tippie; Major General Hans A. Van Winkle, Director of Civil
Works, Army Corps of Engineers; Congressman Sonny Callahan; Director Dr.
George F. Crozier; Marine Educator John DiPlacido (in seagull costume).
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Coastal America Federal Partners
include: the Departments of Agriculture, Air Force, Army, Commerce,
Defense, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Navy,
Transportation; the Environmental Protection Agency; and the Executive
Office of the President. During the designation ceremony, representatives from each of the federal |
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partners presented Dr.
George Crozier, Executive Director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab,
"token" gifts signifying their commitment to the Sea Lab as a
Learning Center.
A bronze plaque designating the Sea
Lab as a Coastal America Learning Center was unveiled by Dr.
Crozier, Cong. Callahan and
the third-grade class of the Dauphin Island Elementary School.
"This is just another feather in the already brimming cap worn by the
Dauphin Island Sea Lab," said Congressman Sonny Callahan. "Dr.
George Crozier and his entire team have worked tirelessly to |
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Congressman Sonny Callahan commends
the Sea Lab on its prestigious federal designation.
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make our Sea
Lab one of the best in the nation. This recognition, becoming only the 13th
Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center in the U.S., underscores the valuable
contribution the Dauphin Island Sea Lab makes not only to Mobile and
Baldwin Counties, but to the entire state and region."
Other Coastal America Coastal
Ecosystem Learning Centers are:
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• Alaska Sealife
Center - Seward, AK
• Hatfield Marine Center - Newport, OR
• Monterey Bay Aquarium - Monterey, CA
• Mystic Aquarium - Connecticut
• National Aquarium in Baltimore - Maryland
• New England Aquarium - Boston, MA
• New York Aquarium - Brooklyn, NY
• Texas State Aquarium - Corpus
Christi, TX
• The
Florida Aquarium - Tampa, FL
• The International Game and Fish
Association Fishing Hall of Fame
and Museum - Dania Beach, FL |
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• The Seattle Aquarium - Washington
• Waikiki Aquarium - Honolulu, HI
All photos courtesy of
Coastal America.
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