South Carolina Aquarium Gala to celebrate STEM education and conservation
April 4, 2016
Join the Aquarium’s Largest Fundraiser May 7
CHARLESTON, SC – The South Carolina Aquarium will host its 10th annual Conservation Gala, May 7 on Liberty Square in Charleston. The gala will celebrate STEM education and the Aquarium’s award-winning programs and will recognize local visionaries and champions of STEM education. During the gala, the Environmental Stewardship Award will be presented along with the InterTech Group Award for Excellence in STEM Education. The evening will underscore the importance of investing in STEM education to arrive at innovative solutions to our most pressing environmental concerns, from coastal resiliency to ocean acidification.The gala will include cocktails, a seated dinner, an award presentation and live entertainment at the After-Affair. The charitable evening will raise funds for the South Carolina Aquarium’s diverse environmental, education and conservation programs.
Visionary STEM Leadership Award Recipient:
Beverly M. Wyse, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing South Carolina, will receive this year’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Visionary STEM Leadership. This distinction recognizes Wyse’s longstanding work to advance STEM education and careers for young women as well as her commitment to fostering sustainability and environmental stewardship within the Boeing culture. Wyse excelled in math and science from an early age and, as one of only a handful of women in the program, graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a mechanical engineering degree. Wyse started with Boeing in 1985 right out of college, and then moved to London to work with British Aerospace, where she was one of only two women engineers. Later, she returned to Boeing to head up 767 and 737 lines in Seattle. In January 2015, Wyse was named Vice President and General Manager of Boeing South Carolina. In this position, she has overall leadership for all of Boeing’s South Carolina operations and facilities in North Charleston.
Past recipients of the Environmental Stewardship Award include Jeff Corwin, Dr. Robert Ballard, Robert “Ted” Turner III, Dr. Sylvia Earle, former Vice President Al Gore, Alexandra Cousteau and Philippe Cousteau, Jr. (the children of Philippe Cousteau, Sr., and grandchildren of legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau); Senator and Mrs. Fritz Hollings, and author Pat Conroy.
InterTech Group Award for Excellence in STEM Education:
Seven outstanding teachers from South Carolina will also be recognized for their dedication to educating future generations of environmental stewards in our state. They were chosen based on their commitment to STEM education and conservation initiatives within their classrooms as well as their communities. The award is underwritten by The InterTech Group, Inc., the presenting sponsor of this year’s Conservation Gala.
The 10th annual South Carolina Aquarium Conservation Gala takes place May 7, 2016 from 6 to 11 p.m. Individual tickets are $300 per person; table sponsorships are also available. Contact Stephanie Gabosch at[email protected] or (843) 579-8540 for more information about this event, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities.
About the South Carolina Aquarium:
The South Carolina Aquarium features thousands of amazing aquatic animals from river otters and sharks to loggerhead turtles in more than 60 exhibits representing the rich biodiversity of South Carolina from the mountains to the sea. Dedicated to promoting education and conservation, the Aquarium also presents fabulous views of the Charleston Harbor and interactive exhibits and programs for visitors of all ages.
The South Carolina Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last ticket sold at 4 p.m.) The Aquarium is closed Thanksgiving Day, half day Dec. 24 (open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Dec. 25. Admission prices are: Toddlers (2 and under) free; Youth (3-12) $17.95; Adults (13+) $24.95. The Aquarium plus the 4-D Theater experience is free for Toddlers, $22.95 for Children, $29.95 for Adults. The 4-D Theater experience only is $6.95 for Children and Adults and free for Members. For more information, call (843) 577-FISH (3474) or visit scaquarium.org.
