Evinrude announces this year's recipients of Water Research Excellence Fellowships

Graduate students Emily Lou LaMartina and Erik Carlson on UWM's Evinrude-powered research vessel © Rus Graham

Evinrude, a global manufacturer of marine engines headquartered in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, has named the 2018-2019 Evinrude Water Research Excellence Fellows.

Emily Lou LaMartina, a Racine native pursuing her master's thesis in microbial ecology, and Erik Carlson, a Kenosha County native pursing his master's thesis in fisheries were named the 2018 Evinrude Water Research Excellence Fellows. The program awards two fellowships worth $5,000 to master and PhD level students at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee's School of Freshwater Sciences to help fund their research.

"With the Evinrude Water Research Excellence Fellowship, I will be able to dedicate the time and attention this research demands for the future of water," said LaMartina. "The funding from the fellowship will help support my goal to achieve a healthier environment for all dwellers of water, human or microbe, large or small. I also hope to present my research at the Microbial Ecology and Water Engineering Specialist Conference in November 2019."

"It is truly an honor being named one of this year's Evinrude fellows," said Carlson. "The funding from the fellowship will be used to present my research to the International Association for Great Lakes Research and Great Lakes Fishery Commission in 2019."

Evinrude actively supports the School of Freshwater Sciences, donating E-TEC G2 outboard engines to power two research vessels as well as providing financial support to the school's fellowship research program. Both forms of support help the School conduct research vital to understanding and protecting the Great Lakes and other freshwater resources.

"The School of Freshwater Sciences' fellowship program recognizes outstanding students who are dedicated to the study and preservation of our waterways," said Tracy Crocker, president of the BRP Marine Group and senior vice president and general manager of Evinrude. "As one of the few schools in the world that offers such a program, it is important that we take part in efforts that help to preserve marine resources."

Evinrude manufactures the cleanest combustion outboard engines in the world. The company is an active supporter of associations, such as the American Sportfishing Association, the National Marine Manufacturer's Association, and the Coastal Conservation Association, as well as schools and organizations that advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources.