Meet the 2016 Sea S.T.A.R. Interns

The Sea S.T.A.R. Interns arrived this week at the Field Station and are roaring to get the summer going! Sea S.T.A.R. stands for Students Teaching and Researching. All of the students are approaching their senior year in high school looking to get more involved with nature this summer!  With many camps and intergenerational programs on the horizon, the interns are spending this week preparing lessons, songs, and activities. During their internship, the Sea S.T.A.Rs also take on their own unique research project which they will present on during their end of the summer celebration,  volunteer with various places on the island, and get a small taste of college as they attend a current college course at the Field Station.

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Esha ​Chaudhuri

Hello! My name is Esha and I currently live in Washington DC, though I have lived in several places and don't really consider any single place my home. Since freshman year my favorite activity has been rowing for my school.

I've envisioned myself having many careers, especially when I was younger, and I have only become more indecisive as I have grown up. However, I know I do not want to sit at a desk for the entirety of the rest of my life-- I want to work outside, or travel, etc, and I want to be useful in an active way.

My favorite quote is from my brother's hero, Derek Jeter--"There may be people who have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do." My brother is two years older than me, and we are close, especially because we moved frequently during our lives. He is largely the reason I became and have remained a bit of a tomboy. I am looking forward to spending my summer in the beautiful Chincoteague salt marshes and Assateague beaches, and I am excited to conduct a research project!

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Catherine Schlenker

Hi! My name is Catherine and I'm from Maryland. I love playing field hockey and soccer. Besides playing sports, I
love to read and spend time with my family and friends. I'm interested in having a career in environmental or marine science. I'm also interested in having a career where I get to work with animals. My favorite quote is from Amy Poehler, "No one looks stupid when they're having fun." A fun fact about me is that I have an odd combination of pets-- a cat and a turtle, both of which I enjoy playing with. I'm really looking forward to this summer, and learning a bunch of new things and meeting great new people! I'm excited to spend a lot of time outside, exploring new places and ideas!

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​Maggie Matthews

My name is Maggie Matthews and I am a junior from Charlottesville, Virginia. In my free time I love to play soccer, paint, and spend time with my friends and family. I plan on having a career focused on science, however, I am not sure what I actually want to do yet. Currently I am leaning towards an environmental science or medical field. My favorite quote is "Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and flowers." I am left handed and have lived in the same spot my entire life. I don't know how to do a handstand but learning is one of my major goals. This summer I am excited to meet new people and have fun while learning all about the environment and helping others do the same.

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Gabrielle Jones

My name is Gabrielle, I'm 17 years old and I'm from Knoxville, Tennessee. I have a big, crazy family of 3 older brothers, 3 older sisters, 2 younger nephews, and 1 younger niece. My favorite hobby is crocheting, and I love obstacle course racing. I want to work with animals as a career, and I want to be a veterinarian. One of my favorite quotes is I am only one. But still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. by Edward Everett Hale. A fun fact about me is that I'm vegetarian and home-schooled. What I'm most looking forward to this summer is doing research, meeting like-minded people, and learning how to share my knowledge with others.

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Taylor Benetz

My name is Taylor. I will be seventeen the end of this upcoming May. I am from Quakertown, Pennsylvania. I live in a household with my mother, stepdad, and grandmother; my brother (age 21) has already moved out and my sister (age 20) is attending her Sophomore year at Penn State University, Main campus. My favorite things to do include working with animals of all kinds, spending time on boats, fishing, crabbing, also spending time outdoors camping and just about anything else having to do with water and nature. I wish to pursue a career with marine animals; whether rescuing, protecting or researching. My dream job is simply to spend time with marine animals. I am very excited for this summer to see and work with the marine life and learn everything I can about the beautiful and intriguing creatures that live beneath the surface. A favorite quote of mine is one said by the famous explorer, Christopher Columbus, "You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore" An important saying to me because a big part of growing up is to make choices and accept change, one cannot do this without taking risks and jumping with both feet in sometimes. I was slightly reluctant about this internship because of the risks that follow of possibly not enjoying it and losing my summer. I can sometimes get over-concerned about change and risks such as this one but I have faith that I will be able to gain so much from this experience and I am jumping with both feet in!

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​Alice Stitzer

Hello! My name is Alice, and I'm a rising senior at James River High School in Richmond, Virginia. When I'm not rowing with my school's crew team, I'm probably surfing and staying in my family's beach house in Manteo, NC. I also really enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors reading. One of my favorite books is East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I knew that I wanted to be involved in an environmental field from a young age since I grew up hearing a lot about the environment from my dad who used to work for the VA Department of Environmental Quality. I find all animals and their ecosystems incredibly interesting, and I would love to work in a zoological field in the future. There are a handful of quotes I find interesting, but one of my favorites is, "Be like the flower who even gives its fragrance to the hand that crushes it." -Imam Ali. Something interesting about me is that I've played the cello for almost 7 years. I'm looking forward to getting to know my fellow Sea STAR interns, and especially exploring and learning about the ecosystem with a hands-on approach! I can't wait to learn more about the marine habitats and animals of the Eastern Shore!

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​Rucha Wani

Hi my name is Rucha and I’m from Pennsylvania. I turn 17 this September and I have a younger sister that’s in 8th grade right now. I am originally from Pennsylvania but I did live in India for a few years. My favorite hobbies are reading and sketching. I love soccer, but I stopped playing a long time ago. My dream job is to combine marine life research with biochemistry. My favorite quote is from the book Paper Towns by John Green, “What is the point of being alive if you don’t at least try to do something remarkable?”. I usually have dance/jam out sessions with my family or all by myself to my favorite music! I am really looking forward to doing my own research project and meeting a ton of new people this summer.

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​Sabrina Adleson

Hey, my name is Sabrina and I am currently sixteen years old (turning seventeen in May). I was born and have lived in Fairfax, Virginia my whole life alongside my one brother who is five years older than me.  I love animals and have always had pets; over my life time I have had: a cat, two dogs, two frogs, two birds, ten fish, and two hamsters. At the moment I have the two birds and only one dog, but I’m glad to have provided all of them with a good home and happy lives. My favorite hobby is photography and favorite sport is tae kwon do. I am a black belt and teach at my tae kwon do school along with competing on a national level. I love music, it has always been a part of my life. I play guitar (all genres), cello, and I sing. My favorite quote is “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul” from the poem Invictus by William Earnest Henley. My dream job is wildlife photography along with education and conservation (hopefully I will find a job with all three). I am super excited to be spending my summer outdoors with people who are enthusiastic about science like I am.