OCEAN CITY — To Nicole Cappolina, the Shore means more than sun, sand and surf at the beach. When she leaves for college in September, her sights are set on helping preserve the coastal environment she enjoys so much for future generations.

She leaves her family in Marmora in September for Monmouth University in West Long Branch, where she’ll major in Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy. Her course of study fits well with the Ocean City Fishing Club (OCFC) scholarship program which awards $500 annually to a deserving Ocean City High School graduate who intends to study biology, environmental sciences, oceanography, or related fields in college.

“I’m a beach person,” she said on a recent visit to the club’s fishing pier, “and I’ve always wanted to do something related to our coastal environment. Monmouth University has a great program for what I want to do. I’m thrilled to get the fishing club’s scholarship this year.”

Her course of study explores ways to balance the use of marine and environmental resources with sustainability. It also provides an understanding of the issues, laws and policies needed to support and protect marine resources.

“It’s a broad field of study,” she said. “There are many different possibilities to specialize in.”

Those areas of study include internships anywhere, from nearby back bays to Alaska and the Bahamas, she said, through the university’s Urban Coast Institute. With so many options available, Nicole looks forward to attending Monmouth University as the next step in her academic life.

“Going to high school in Ocean City has been great,” she said. “But I’m ready to move on to college. And Monmouth University is far enough and close enough from home for that.”

Her college roommate is a Mainland High School graduate, who’s already become her friend, she said. While the current Covid-19 era will impact her college experience in some ways, Nicole is philosophical about going away to Monmouth University.

“It certainly will be different, but we just have take all the precautions to stay safe,” she said. “I’m glad to have the chance to attend college in person. It’s so important to have the interactions with other students. We just have to be smart about it.”

Nicole was recommended for the scholarship by the faculty and administration at Ocean City High School. OCFC has awarded the scholarship for the past 14 years. Founded in 1913, OCFC is the oldest, continually operating fishing club in the United States.

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CAPTION: Nicole Cappolina, this year’s Ocean City Fishing Club scholarship recipient, tries her hand with a fishing pole at the club’s fishing pier