Press Release
May 2, 2000
Graniterock Provides $5,000 To Boost Sea Odyssey in Watsonville Classrooms
Watsonville-based Graniterock has provided a $5,000 for O’Neill Sea Odyssey, for Watsonville public school classrooms that achieve or exceed academic achievement goals.
Since 1996, O’Neill Sea Odyssey has provided free, educational lessons to nearly 12,000 students in a four county area, 16% of those students have been from the City of Watsonville. Not only have these students received free, ocean-based lessons in science and ocean ecology, they have also contributed to the community through their mandatory community service projects.
“Our company has worked very closely with area schools and other businesses to increase academic performance in the classroom, and this grant is part of that effort,” said Bruce W. Woolpert, President and CEO of the 100 year old, Watsonville-based Graniterock. “We are very pleased to support the recognition of Watsonville area students who have worked hard, earning them the opportunity to participate in this unique, hands-on science learning program.”
O’Neill Sea Odysseywas founded in 1996 by wetsuit pioneer Jack O’Neill, and was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1997. The three-hour Sea Odyssey program includes one and one-half hours of hands-on instruction on board the 65-foot Team O’Neill catamaran and one and one-half hours in a shore-side education center at the Santa Cruz Harbor. The program is free of charge, but classes must perform a community service project to participate.
Since 1996, O’Neill Sea Odyssey has provided free, educational lessons to nearly 12,000 students in a four county area, 16% of those students have been from the City of Watsonville. Not only have these students received free, ocean-based lessons in science and ocean ecology, they have also contributed to the community through their mandatory community service projects.
“Our company has worked very closely with area schools and other businesses to increase academic performance in the classroom, and this grant is part of that effort,” said Bruce W. Woolpert, President and CEO of the 100 year old, Watsonville-based Graniterock. “We are very pleased to support the recognition of Watsonville area students who have worked hard, earning them the opportunity to participate in this unique, hands-on science learning program.”
O’Neill Sea Odysseywas founded in 1996 by wetsuit pioneer Jack O’Neill, and was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1997. The three-hour Sea Odyssey program includes one and one-half hours of hands-on instruction on board the 65-foot Team O’Neill catamaran and one and one-half hours in a shore-side education center at the Santa Cruz Harbor. The program is free of charge, but classes must perform a community service project to participate.
