Here at the Gulf Scholars Program, our strength lies in both the personal and academic connection to the gulf. Keeping in touch with statistics and souls is what helps a community succeed, and at the program, we strive to balance all aspects of our approaches to studying the gulf.
This week’s scholar is: Eleanor Curtis
What is your name, hometown and major?
Eleanor Curtis, New Orleans LA, and Southern Studies.
What interests you most about the Gulf Scholars Program?
My lifelong connection to the Mississippi Gulf Coast drew me to this program. As a Katrina baby, the Gulf has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Before my grandmother passed away, she started a museum dedicated to showcase the small towns along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the ways they were affected by Hurricane Katrina. Growing up around her work gave me a deep interest in preserving these communities and sharing their amazing stories. I have always wanted to do my own work to help tell these stories, and I feel that now is my time to do so.
What are you considering for your Gulf Impact Project?
I would like to bring more awareness to the towns and the history of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In order to accomplish this, I would like to create an exhibit that speaks to the beauty,importance, and resilience of the Mississippi coast. This exhibit could travel throughout the state and be set up in museums, libraries, or schools. By combining education, community involvement, and a stronger cultural appreciation, Mississippi can build a deeper, more protective relationship with the Gulf.
What are you most excited to learn more about?
I am most excited to learn more about the culture and art of the area and how the geography of the area has shaped it.
What do you want to accomplish by the end of the program?
Through what I have learned in this program, I want to create something that helpfully impacts the Mississippi Gulf Coast by shedding light on the towns through culture, art and stories.