I am enrolled as an Americorps member, through a partnership with River City YouthBuild. Prior to volunteering at the federation I was a husbandry intern for the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, helping with animal care. I am currently enrolled in the College of Albemarle studying applied science and will graduate this fall with an Associate’s Degree. After that, I hope to pursue further education in aquaculture and marine science. I enjoy upholding the federation’s mission by keeping the coastal waters that I love to fish in clean.
I’ve lived on the Outer Banks my whole life and am now a senior at First Flight High School in Dare County. I enjoy just about every water sport there is especially surfing. I recently wanted to become more informed on the health and conservation of the waters around me after finding buckets of trash washed up after Hurricane Dorian. Now that I’m an intern, I’m excited to contribute to being part of the solution in protecting our environment.
I knew I wanted to intern at an environmental organization, so when the Coastal Federation visited my school I decided I would reach out to learn more. My marine science teacher was supportive and informed me of how welcoming the staff is, which is definitely the best part about interning here. When I am not working or doing school work, I love to listen to music. I spend most of my extra time going to concerts for all of my favorite artists. After I graduate this spring, my goal is to go to college for an environmental studies degree. I am passionate about the environment, and I am confident that it is what I want to devote my career to. I’d like to put that degree to use at an environmental organization like the N.C. Coastal Federation in the future. I am most excited about meeting new people in the federation and creating connections within this field. I am looking forward to a great semester with everyone here and I’m excited to see what work we can accomplish together!
Despite growing up in central Pennsylvania, I have always had a love and appreciation for the ocean and coastal areas. Spending my childhood summers on the Delaware coast not only taught me to appreciate all that these dynamic ecosystems have to offer, but also to respect them. For years I watched as the lagoons and bays became increasingly polluted, the seagrass beds disappeared, and the different marine species began to change. This all changed, however, when some local college students began a project of oyster basket installations along the coastal area in attempt to filter the water. I was amazed by how effective this project was, and knew that I wanted to contribute similarly to ocean health. I am now in my last semester of my Masters of Ocean and Coastal Policy program at UNCW, and I am very excited to be working with the NC Coastal Federation to continue working towards a healthier environment and more informed community!
I am a junior at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, studying Environmental Studies and Sustainability. My hometown is in Laurinburg, NC and I have lived there for about 15 years. I really enjoy all outside activities and anything to do with encouraging the public to create a healthier, more productive environment – so this is the perfect internship for me. I hope to learn about what myself, and others, can do to achieve a more sustainable, environmentally friendly lifestyle.
I grew up around Annapolis, Maryland, where my family and I spent most weekends boating and exploring the Chesapeake Bay area. Being raised around marine life, and seeing the threats facing it, is the reason I aim to be an ambassador for our coastal ecosystems today. I then moved to North Carolina and received a B.S. in Marine Biology from UNCW in 2019. I am now enrolled in graduate school at UNCW to receive a Masters in Coastal and Ocean Policy. I have grown to love North Carolina and the variety of beautiful ecosystems it has. I truly look forward to this internship where I will have the opportunity to educate the public and reach out to local communities to help make the SE region more sustainable.