Spat Creates Aquaculture-based Scholarship With Nauset Regional High School

Wellfleet Non-Profit Also Bestows Two Grants To Support Local Community Artists

Wellfleet Shellfish Promotion and Tasting (SPAT), organizer of the annual Wellfleet OysterFest, is pleased to announce that the success of last year's OysterFest has allowed the non-profit to expand its educational scholarship and grant awards program. For the first time, SPAT has created an ongoing aquaculture-based scholarship in collaboration with Nauset Regional High School (NRHS), awarding $2,500 a year to a student pursuing higher learning in aquaculture or a related field.

"I can't emphasize enough how important it is that Lower Cape non-profits support our students like SPAT does," says NRHS principal Tom Conrad. "We are grateful to SPAT for helping motivate today's youth to use the tools they'll acquire in college to create lucrative year-round aquaculture jobs for themselves on the Cape."

In addition to the new NRHS scholarship program, SPAT will continue to utilize the OysterFest's proceeds for its educational grant awards program. These grants are awarded to local residents whose creative and educational work inspires appreciation and increases awareness of Wellfleet's famed shellfishery. So far this year, SPAT has awarded $4,000 in grants and is pleased to announce two award recipients.

David Rowell of Wellfleet, Mass.
David will design and construct two unique park benches for Mayo Beach. Using concrete which he will cast from oyster and clam shells and hand-hewn wooden rails made from locust trees, the benches will demonstrate the long and versatile history of the oyster used for commercial applications. While trying to capture the town's love of oysters, David hopes to give Wellfleet residents and visitors a place to rest, gaze out on the flats where shellfishermen work their grants and appreciate the beloved mollusk in every form. David has been awarded $3,000 and, as part of his project, he will teach student apprentices the traditions of this age-old construction technique.

Abraham Storer of West Dennis, Mass.
Abraham, son of a Wellfleet fisherman, came to SPAT with a remarkable project in 2004 that combined art and shellfishing. After a successful exhibition of his resulting work during the 2005 Wellfleet OysterFest, Abe is continuing to explore the images, emotions, smells and tastes of a lifestyle marked by the shellfishing industry. His project is connected to his studies at Brandeis University and the $1,000 grant will assist with his tuition and project materials. He plans a follow up exhibition of drawings and paintings at a Wellfleet venue in summer 2006 and/or at the sixth annual Wellfleet OysterFest.

Educational grants are awarded on an open rotating basis and are voted on at six annual board meetings. Individuals interested in applying for an educational grant award can download an application at http://www.wellfleetoysterfest.org/scholarships.html .

In fulfillment of SPAT's mission to encourage a greater understanding of the town's shellfishery, yearly proceeds from the OysterFest, taking place October 14-15 in 2006, will continue to help Lower Cape students take an active role in preserving shellfishing traditions for years to come. SPAT/NRHS scholarship applicants must be from the Lower Cape (Wellfleet students are given preference), enroll in a two- or four-year college program and desire to work in aquaculture fields such as business management, shellfish production, marine biology or aquaculture education. Upon college acceptance, the award recipient will receive $2,500 each year for four years, as long as he/she continues his/her studies. SPAT will continue to award a new graduating NRHS student with a scholarship of equal value each spring. NRHS students interested in applying for the SPAT/NRHS scholarship can contact the NRHS guidance dep