Father's Love Of Fishing Honored Through Stockton Scholarship

GALLOWAY, NJ — A Stockton University professor has created a marine science scholarship at the university to honor his father's love of fishing.

Gordan Grguric, an associate professor of marine science at Stockton, has set up the newly endowed $200,000 Silba Distinguished Scholarship, which will subsidize Stockton students who are doing research in marine science. The scholarship will award two $3,500 grants per year.

Grguric and his family would travel to the island of Silba in the Adriatic Sea off Croatia, where his father, Petar, an electrical engineer, would spend hours and hours fishing.

"He would talk to the professional fishermen and get hints on techniques and where the best fishing sites were," Grguric said. "He would rent or borrow a boat and lay down a line for a four- or five-hour trip. My career evolved from his interest. That island is such a part of my heritage."

Grguric said research in the summer can be difficult for students who have to work.

"I wanted to give them a stipend so they can take the time to do the research," he said in a news release announcing the scholarship.

Grguric's work focuses on the chemistry of the ocean, the salinity and oxygen levels, rather than fish.

"But I want to support the marine biologists," he said.

Stockton Marine Field Station Director Steve Evert said the endowment is a huge boost for students.

"So many do have to work in the summer to help pay for college," Evert said. "But in marine science, it is so important to get field experience and do research and a lot of that is done in the summer. Being able to do this will greatly strengthen a student’s opportunities for a job or graduate school. I tell students that there are jobs in this field, but they will go first to those with field experience."

Evert said he has been looking for grants, but a permanent endowment like the Silba Scholarship means there will be a permanent funding source each year.

"That will also help us attract students to do the research," Evert said.

"Dr. Grguric’s generosity will benefit generations of Stockton students who are dedicated to the ongoing research of marine life and science," said Jennifer Kosakowski, interim executive director of Stockton's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, who helped set up the scholarship.

"Such a scholarship will not only assist students financially but will ensure that the groundbreaking research that Stockton conducts regionally will continue to thrive through the recruitment and retention of talented student research assistants," she said.