Dr. John Dindo Receives Centorino Award


DR. JOHN DINDO OF THE DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS JAMES CENTORINO AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL MARINE EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
Media Contact: Lisa Young 334/861-7509 Dr. John Dindo of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab recently received the prestigious James Centorino Award from the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) at their conference in Long Beach, California. This national recognition is given for distinguished performance in marine education by non-classroom teaching professionals. Major contributions include outstanding leadership, program development and participation in marine education organizations. Dr. Dindo is the Chair of the Sea Lab¹s Discovery Hall Programs, which oversees all K-12 courses, teacher training, Elderhhostel presentations, the Sea Lab¹s traveling BayMobile exhibits, and the popular Estuarium, the aquarium of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Sea Lab Executive Director Dr. George Crozier states, "John Dindo has been the principal purveyor of marine education in Coastal Alabama and much of the Central Gulf Coast for a quarter of a century. He built what has become the largest residential marine education program in the country while finishing his Ph.D. in hard science!" Dr. Dindo received his Ph.D. in biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1991. Paula Keener-Chavis, President of the National Marine Educators Association, adds, "I cannot imagine anyone more deserving of recognition from NMEA. I think that he epitomizes everything that is needed for the devoted educator and has pioneered the use of the coastal setting to teach science, mathematics and technology."