Summer is here and we have a wonderful group of new interns taking over our sea turtle hospital! They are bringing a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to the organization!

Bailey K: Bailey is one of our lead interns for the summer. She graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. She has previous wildlife rehabilitation experience through internships at the PAWS Wildlife Center and Think Wild.

Natalie B: Hi I’m Natalie, one of the lead interns this summer! I am originally from Chester Springs, PA and graduated last spring from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. I now attend Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine where I am a rising second year veterinary student! I hope to work with aquatic species, primarily marine mammals and sea turtles, as a veterinarian. At home, I work as a veterinary technician at a small animal clinic. I have been a junior intern at KBSTRRC previously in 2020 and 2021 and studied marine biology with a focus in European coral species abroad on Elba Island in 2024. I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge of sea turtle husbandry and rehabilitation and stepping into a leadership role in a hospital setting! 

Angelina T: Hi, I’m Angelina! I’m originally from Chandler, Arizona, and I just graduated this spring from the University of Arizona with a degree in Natural Resources Conservation Biology. Back home, I work as a veterinary technician, and I also have hands-on experience in stingray husbandry, wildlife rehabilitation, marine mammal care, animal behavior, and public outreach. I am so excited to be here at KBSTRRC to learn more about sea turtle rehabilitation. When I'm not working, I love traveling, scuba diving, keeping up with all things space, and watching movies. My ultimate goal is to get my PhD in Wildlife Disease Ecology so I can one day lead a research team investigating health threats and outbreaks facing marine ecosystems!

Brooklyn S: Hi my name is Brooklyn! I was born and raised in New Hampshire but moved to North Topsail Beach, NC 4 years ago. I attended Barton College for my freshman year on a Division II lacrosse scholarship. I am going to be attending UNCW this fall to pursue a degree in Special Elementary Education. I have always been an ocean girl through and through. That played a big factor in me moving down to North Carolina. Last year I was a junior intern at the KBSTRRC and I loved it. I am so grateful for getting the opportunity to come back and do work as a senior intern this year. As I go to UNCW I hope to be able to continue my work with the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital.

Carson B: Hi! My name is Carson, and I’m a rising senior majoring in Marine and Aquatic Biology at Bowling Green State University. I am from Cincinnati, Ohio, and love diving, lab work, watching shows, movies, hanging out with friends, and going to amusement parks! While at home, I work as a seasonal animal care volunteer at the Newport Aquarium. At school, I am the Head Coordinator for the BGSU Marine Lab and am the president of the Scuba Club. During the fall, I enjoy spending my weekends as a scare actor at Cedar Point. I love working with all sorts of marine and aquatic life and have worked with Freshwater Mussels, Coral, Stingrays, Sygnathids, Moray Eels, and tons of aquatic fish species! After graduation, I am open to a wide variety of careers and am interested in continuing my education in grad school. I have always wanted to work with sea turtles and am truly honored to be a part of the KBSTRRC Team this summer!

Damaris A: Hey! My name is Damaris and I am from Charlotte, North Carolina. I completed my Associate's in Arts with a concentration on Humanities and my Associate's in Biological Sciences at Central Piedmont Community College. I will be transferring to the University of North Carolina Wilmington to complete my Bachelor's in Marine Biology with a focus on Conservation for the 2026 Fall semester. I hope to eventually specialize in elasmobranchology, working with sharks and stingrays. I served as a Student Ambassador for the 2024-2025 school year at Central Piedmont and interned at the Department of Social Services in Charlotte, so I am familiar with outreach, but I am excited to gain hands-on experience at the KBSTRRC and look forward to expanding my knowledge and contributing to marine conservation efforts within the field!

Destiny L: Hey I’m Destiny and I am rising senior at Lees McRae college in North Carolina where I am majoring in wildlife Biology with a specialization in wildlife rehabilitation. In the past I have done rehabilitation work at the May wildlife Rehabilitation center, where I worked with a variety of wild animals. This is my first time working with sea turtles and I am super excited! After college I hope to do more rehabilitation related work and education outreach! In my free time I love to go on hikes, hangout with friends and go to the beach! I am super excited to be at KBSTRRC this summer! 

Emily P: Hello! My name is Emily and I’m from Cary, North Carolina. I’m an incoming sophomore at North Carolina State University, studying Marine Science with a concentration in Biological Oceanography. My interest in the KBSTRRC began when I was 15 and took a tour of the facility. The next summer, I was a Junior Intern and I’m so excited to be back as a Senior Intern this year. I’m especially excited to give tours and release turtles back into the ocean!

Ines S: Hi, my name is Ines. I am originally from France but now live in Canada where I graduated from a bachelor's degree in environmental studies at Concordia University in Montreal. I have first worked as a research assistant for a PhD candidate on the reintroduction of captive bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in the Caatinga Biome in Brazil and later gained experience volunteering at different wildlife rehabilitation centres where I had the opportunity to work with birds, small mammals and sea turtles. I am very excited to intern at the KBSTRRC to learn more about sea turtles amongst a great team of professionals and volunteers. I intend to pursue a masters degree in the coming years, studying the mitigation of anthropogenic pressures on species at risk. I enjoy running, hiking and traveling to new places and learning about different cultures. 

Julia F: Julia is a student at Ohio University majoring in Wildlife and Conservation Biology. Her previous animal experience includes participating in ecological research at the Avian Ecology Lab at Ohio State, and volunteering with the Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs, the Glen Helen Raptor Center, and the SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center. She also brings experience in environmental engineering.

Luke G: Luke is a student at Pitzer College in California. He is working towards a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Analysis. He is also working on a minor in music. Luke brings experience in marine science and environmental education,. He has conducted field research identifying native and invasive ant species at the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. He also volunteered to help remove invasive plants and plant native species.

Sarah C: Sarah is a student at the University of Maine studying Marine Science and Earth and Climate Science. She is also working towards a minor in Dance. A previous sea turtle camper at KBSTC, she also was a marine mammal research and education intern with the New England Aquarium. Additionally, Sarah has research experience at the University of Main's Department of Earth and Climate Science and the Aquaculture Research Institute.

Just in time to help with a busy cold-stun season, our 2026 Spring semester UNCW interns have arrived! On behalf of everyone here, especially the Saturday Team, we are grateful for each and every one of them. Welcome!

Allie W: Hi, my name is Allie. I am a senior majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Marine Biology. I am from Kent Island, Maryland. I chose to intern at KBSTRRC because of my passion for sea turtles and wildlife rehabilitation. I enjoy observing the rehabilitation progress of these incredible animals and hope to continue working in this field in my future career.

Audry C: Hi! My name is Audrey and I am from Charlotte, NC. I chose the KBSTRRC internship because I am really passionate about helping marine animals, especially sea turtles. I want to focus my marine biology career on rehabilitation, and I am excited to learn how to care for sick or injured sea turtles, and hopefully make a difference in their recovery.

Callyn C: Hello, my name is Callyn, and I am a marine biology major at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Originally from Memphis, TN, I grew up in North Carolina. I chose to pursue the KBSTRRC internship because it offers a unique opportunity to work hands-on with endangered and threatened sea turtles while applying the knowledge I have gained from my coursework and laboratory experiences. Through this experience, I hope to strengthen my practical animal care and husbandry skills, deepen my understanding of sea turtle conservation, and gain valuable experience that will help prepare me for a future career in marine wildlife conservation and research.

Kayla P: Hello I’m Kayla P from Durham, NC. As a marine biology major at UNCW I have a strong passion for marine animal rehabilitation and husbandry. With a lifelong love for marine mammals and sea turtles, after watching Dolphin Tale as a kid, I hope to one day find a career in rehabilitation, animal husbandry, or researching behavior and cognition. Taking my first steps towards my goals through my internship with Karen Beasley Rescue and Rehabilitation Center I look forward to working with all of the patients at the KBSTRRC this spring and learning the behind the scenes care and skills that it takes to rehabilitate and get these turtles ready for release! From feeding the turtles to doing laundry, I’m excited for every priceless experience this internship has to offer.

Malena G: My name is Malena, and I am originally from Asheville, North Carolina. I am currently a Biology major concentrating in Pre-Veterinary Studies and minoring in Business at UNC Wilmington, where I am pursuing my academic and professional goals with a strong interest in animal health and the goal of going to veterinary school. This passion led me to apply for the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center internship. I wanted to do this internship because of its commitment to hands-on learning and its role in sea turtle rehabilitation and conservation. I am excited about the opportunity to gain practical experience and learn from professionals who have dedicated years to rehabilitation and rescue, and working with sea turtles. By completing this internship, I hope to deepen my understanding of rehabilitation, build meaningful professional connections, and gain valuable hands-on experience that will prepare me for a future career working with animals.

Maya W: My name is Maya. I was born in Columbus Ohio and raised in Morrisville North Carolina. I graduated high school at Cary High and applied to school at Wake Tech Community College shortly after. I was in community college for about two or three years before graduation then I transferred to UNCW in January 2025 as a marine biology major. I graduated with an associates in psychology in December 2024. I applied to this internship for the experience and to help add qualifications to my resume. In the past I've worked in animal shelters, veterinary clinics, and pet boarding warehouses. I originally saw this opportunity posted outside of the main lecture room in Dobo Hall.The internship was listed on the bulletin board. It caught my attention and I became really interested in working at a sea turtle rehab. By the end of this job/internship I’ll have more insight of how animal hospitals work, how they treat and feed the patients and providing care and medicine.I’m also hoping to gain more self discipline by the end of this course.

Rachel S: My name is Rachael, I am from a small town called Windham in New Hampshire. I grew up going between the mountains and the beach and enjoy being outside in nature. I have always loved animals and wanted to be a marine biologist as a child. My family moved to North Carolina and I decided I wanted to go back to school and I really wanted to pursue a degree that would allow me to help the environment and possibly work with animals. When I heard that the sea turtle hospital had an internship I was excited by the idea and chose to apply. I grew up going to the New England Aquarium and the sea turtle there was my favorite. I loved the idea of getting to work up close with these beautiful animals and contribute to their conservation in a meaningful way. What I hope to get out of this internship is experience working hands on with animals and a better understanding of sea turtles and conservation as a whole.

Ryann W: My name is Ryann. I am currently a senior at UNCW and I am majoring in marine biology. I grew up in a very small town in central Illinois, but moved to Wilmington for school to study all things ocean related. I chose the KBSTRRC internship because sea turtles are my absolute favorite animal and I am very passionate about conservation and rehabilitation. With this opportunity I hope to gain valuable experience in the field of rehabilitation and do my best to educate the public on conservation efforts. The professional exposure and education from this opportunity would be extremely beneficial to my future in this field. I am very thankful to be here and look forward to all there is to learn!

Syd C: My name is Syd and I am from Exeter, NH which is a decent size town about 10 minutes from the beach, which is what started my love for marine biology. I grew up going to the beach with my family and spending hours playing in the water but most of my time was spent looking through tidepools. I graduated from Exeter High School in 2022 and spent my first two years of college at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. I could only study biology at this university, which was a big deciding factor for me when I finally decided to transfer. My third year of college was when I started at UNCW, where I am now majoring in marine biology and playing softball. Choosing to participate in the KBSTRRC internship was an extremely easy decision for me. Before this my only relevant experience was my Aqualogic internship where I harvested invasive milfoil plants, so I knew this would be an invaluable opportunity for me to gain key experience and skills to help shape my future. Another aspect that made me really want to take part in this internship was my friend Kassie who was an intern here last spring. She gave me a tour of the facility which was my first time here and it made me realize even more this was something I wanted to be a part of. I hope to gain vital experience from this internship that will help me hone in my skills to what I want to do in the future. I also hope to strengthen friendships with my fellow interns.

Tessa M: Hello! My name is Tessa, and I am currently a senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) majoring in Marine Biology. I am originally from Hopatcong, New Jersey, which is quite far away from the ocean, but I have always been deeply fascinated by marine life and ocean ecosystems. Although my interest in the ocean began at a young age, my passion truly solidified when I visited the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, Florida. That experience confirmed that I wanted to pursue a career working with marine animals. Due to my strong interest in rescue and rehabilitation, I chose the KBSTRRC internship to gain hands on experience helping marine animals in need. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of a team dedicated to rehabilitating sea turtles and working toward their successful release.Through this internship, I hope to expand my knowledge of the rehabilitation process and build a strong foundation for a future career in marine animal rescue and rehabilitation."

Due to a lower patient load, we revised our internship schedule for Fall 2025 through Spring 2026. We staggered arrival times for interns to allow for fewer interns when we were slow and more interns in our busy cold stun season. We appreciate this group's flexibility and contributions! 

Haley C: My name is Haley and I am an environmental science graduate from Illinois State University. I am from the suburbs of Chicago and became interested in sea turtles after seeing hatchlings on the beach during a study abroad trip to Mexico. I fell in love with wildlife conservation after my internship at the North American Bear Center in Ely, MN. I spent this past summer in swamps working with NY State Parks to help monitor Blanding’s turtles and protect their nests. This is my first experience working with sea turtles so I am grateful for this opportunity to work with them and learn about wildlife rehabilitation! After my term here I will be working as a seasonal diamondback terrapin technician with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center in Jekyll Island, GA.

Kamala C: Hi I’m Kamala! I grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from UConn with a B.S. in marine sciences. My goal is to use science, education, and conservation to help protect our natural world. My love for sea turtles commenced while working with nesting turtles in Costa Rica and Panama for two summers where I collaborated with locals to protect sea turtles from poachers, collect data, and educate the public. I hope to continue protecting turtles and learning about rehabilitation at KBSTRRC and throughout my life, though I am open to a variety of environmental-focused careers. In addition to interning at KBSTRRC, I am teaching students marine sciences at Ecological Marine Adventures. While in college I assisted in research and outreach with the Connecticut Reserve and conducted research on mussels. After graduating, I taught English in Spain and SCUBA diving in Italy. In my free time I enjoy traveling the world, spending time in nature, and learning all I can.

Kayla C: Kayla graduated from Hiram College in Ohio with majors in Biology and Environmental Studies and a minor in Art and Design. She has previous sea turtle experience from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and wildlife rehabilitation experience from the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center. 

Leighton G: My name is Leighton and I am an Organismal Biology and Ecology graduate from Colorado College. I originate from Boston and my love for the ocean and sea turtles started when I went to the Island School in the Bahamas in high school. I spent a year after college in the Bahamas doing shark and stone crab research and recently did an internship at the New England Aquarium in Boston at their sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center. After completing my internship at KBSTRRC, I will be continuing my studies at the University of Miami doing a master’s in tropical marine ecosystem management.

Tori R: Hi, my name is Tori! I was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. In 2024, I graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Environmental Science, specializing in Applied Ecology, and a minor in Environmental Law and Policy. After graduating, I worked for a year as an AmeriCorps Wildlife Educator with the Nevada Department of Wildlife where I got to work with big horn sheep, raptors, and other desert wildlife. I chose this internship because I’ve always wanted to work with sea turtles and I wanted to see if I was interested in rehabilitation as a career path.

Yuri B: Yuri served as KBSTRRC's first Life Support Systems intern! Hailing from Greensboro, NC she graduated from NC A&T with bachelors degrees in Animal Science and Laboratory Animal Science. She previously interned at the Greensboro Science Center. Her goal is to pursue veterinary school.

It's a pleasure to welcome this semester's UNCW Interns! 

Callie D: Hello, my name is Callie, and I am a senior at UNCW, majoring in Marine Biology with a concentration in Marine Conservation. I am from Charlotte, NC, and my dream job is to become an animal care specialist at an aquarium specializing in marine megafauna. I am particularly passionate about cetaceans, otters, sea turtles, and chondrichthyes. I also have several hobbies and interests, including reading, watching movies, and listening to pop music. I also love to travel, particularly in tropical areas or while vacationing with Disney Cruise Line or at Walt Disney World.

Drew B: I am currently a senior at UNCW majoring in biology. I am graduating in December and am hoping to stay at UNCW for my masters. I am originally from Maine, where I have done volunteer work with other animals. I am very excited for this opportunity to get hands-on experience working with sea turtles! I think it is important to both help these endangered species, as well as educate the public about the importance of conservation. This internship will help me further my career goals and expand my knowledge on all species of sea turtles.

Joe S: Hello, my name is Joe. I am a senior from Chapel Hill, NC, and I’m majoring in marine biology. After I graduate, I want to do field research, traveling to unique places to study marine reptiles. I’ve always loved the outdoors and working with animals. I’m an eagle scout and former college baseball player, so it’s important for me to be active and to do something that makes me feel good at the end of the day. When I was eight years old, I visited the KBSTRRC, and it’s a very surreal feeling to be interning here fifteen years later.

Kyra A: HI! I am a junior at UNCW majoring in marine biology with a concentration in conservation and a minor in oceanography! I am originally from Long Island, New York, in a little harbor town on the north shore. Growing up at the ocean inspired my passion to protect it, and seeing the amazing work done in Wilmington has only fueled that passion. I am so grateful that I get to be a part of an initiative like the KBSTRRC, and I cannot wait to learn more about these beautiful creatures throughout this semester and carry this experience with me as I pursue my career in marine conservation!

Katy W: Hello, I’m Katy! I am a senior Marine Biology major at UNCW. I am originally from Kansas City, Missouri and
moved here three years ago to pursue my degree. When I was five years old, my family took a trip to Corpus
Christi, Texas where I saw my first sea turtle during a Kemp’s ridley hatchling release and I’ve been sold on
marine life ever since. I currently work in veterinary medicine and would love to merge my passion for
marine organisms with medicine to work in a rehabilitation facility just like this one in the future. It is such a
privilege to be here and work with these beautiful creatures, and I can’t wait to see where this experience
takes me!

Leah S: I’m from Boone, NC, and currently a senior in marine biology at UNCW with a concentration in conservation. Being fortunate enough to visit Sunset Beach, NC, in the summers with my family, I’ve toured this facility many times. I have wanted to do this internship since I first learned about it as a little girl! I’m an avid scuba diver and have seen many wild turtles in the most tropical of places. Those moments are ones I’m determined to ensure other divers get to experience. My ultimate career goal is to do vet tech work with rehabilitated sea turtles in a facility much like this one. I’m incredibly excited to intern at the KBSTRRC this fall and get a first-hand look at my dream job!

Marley L: My name is Marley, I'm from Houston Texas, and I am majoring in marine biology with a pre-veterinary concentration and a minor in assistance dog training. A couple of months ago I was able to spend 15 days in Costa Rica working with Olive ridleys so I am very excited to be able to work with sea turtles again! After vet school, I hope to be a veterinarian working with marine rehabilitation centers!

Mason M: I’m from a small town just south of Raleigh called Garner, and I’m a junior at UNCW. I’m majoring in Marine Biology with a minor in Marine Conservation. I patrolled Figure 8 Island this past summer, looking for sea turtle nests and hatchling tracks before I traveled to Australia to dive the Great Barrier Reef. I spent a lot of my life on the Neuse River around New Bern, NC, and off Cape Lookout by Morehead City. I grew up fishing and boating, where I found a deep connection with aquatic wildlife. I’d like to focus my studies more towards biotelemetry and fisheries science to tag and track fish to learn migratory patterns, behavioral ecology, and stock assessments.

Olivia W: Hi everyone! My name is Olivia, and I am a senior undergraduate student majoring in marine biology and environmental science with a minor in oceanography at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Originally, I am from Eldersburg Maryland, and I grew up with one younger brother running around in the creeks and forests around our backyard. I have always had an innate desire to positively impact this world and a deep love for animals. I love to spend time with my tuxedo cat, Pepper, and German Shepard dog, Taz, when I am in Maryland. This is my first experience with sea turtles, and I could not be more grateful to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center for this incredible experience. I am so excited to be a part of such a kind and intelligent team much larger than myself, who shares the same passion for animal and sea turtle conservation. In the future, I hope to work in animal rehabilitation and conservation and perform wildlife research to shape conservation policy.

Rianne L: I am a Junior at UNCW majoring in Marine Biology with a minor in Chemistry, and I am from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I plan to attend veterinary school after graduation, where I hope to specialize in exotics. I’m so excited to work at the KBSTRRC to help sea turtles and spread awareness for how humans can help them! This amazing hands-on opportunity will help further my veterinary aspirations, where I can continue work in this field.


On behalf of everyone at the KBSTRRC, we envision great things ahead for this talented team of students!

We are happy to have 10 interns from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with us this spring!  Let's meet them! 

My name is Morgan from Red Springs, N.C. I'm a Senior Biology major w/ concentration in Pre-Vet and minor in Anthropology. I've been working as a Veterinary Assistant for 3 years and I volunteer and  manage social media for several wildlife organizations.

I'm Macy from Charlotte, N.C. I'm currently a senior at UNCW and majoring in marine biology. I chose this internship because I have a deep passion for marine life, so I love having the opportunity to help the sea turtles here!

Hey! My name is Madison and I’m from Greensboro, NC! I’m a senior and my major is Marine Biology. I love sea turtles and I want to do something like this as a future job! I've also heard great things about this internship through friends and other UNCW students. I love the beach, sunsets/sunrises, hanging out with friends, and shopping!

My name is Luke and I’m a junior at UNCW. I’m from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. I am a Biology major with an interest towards conservation/sustainability. I chose this internship to hopefully gain experience working with endangered species as well as to build connections to further my future in the biology world. Also, turtles are very cool.

I’m RJ from Cincinnati OH. I’m a junior at UNCW majoring in Marine Biology. I run a YouTube channel for fishing and fish keeping. I have 1000 gallons of water in my basement back home and love everything aquatic.

My name is Andrew. I’m from Maryland and this is my third year at UNCW. I’m majoring in Marine Biology. I love fishing and am part of the UNCW rowing club.

My name is Tyler. I am a sophomore at UNCW from Summerfield, North Carolina. I am double majoring in Marine Biology with a concentration in Marine Conservation & International Studies with a concentration in Environment. I chose this internship to get a more medical approach to hands-on experience to further my own conservation work portfolio. I love to surf, chase sunrises & sunsets, and I love to go backpacking.

I’m Brianna, a 20-year-old sophomore majoring in Marine Biology from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I have a concentration in Conservation as well as a double minor in Neuroscience and Oceanography. I have always grown up wanting to work with turtles and work in marine mammal rescue, strandings and necropsies. Therefore, I wanted that experience but with a sea turtle hospital, especially since my goal for a future career is to work in marine rehabilitation. I love outdoor adventure activities as well as cooking, reading and writing my own music. Coffee shops are my favorite place to hang out and I love to travel.

Hi, my name is Lauren! I am a Marine Bio and Pre-Vet major. I am from Kernersville North Carolina and I plan to become an aquatic animal veterinarian! I love to watch sunsets, go to coffee shops, and spend time with my pets! I have two dogs, a cat, and a fish! After gaining experience working with dogs and cats at a veterinary clinic, I knew that the world of veterinary medics was the place for me! Working at this internship allows me to gain experience for vet school and help care for a species I love and want to help protect!

My name is Chrystal. I’m a UNCW senior majoring in Biology, Pre-Vet. I chose this internship because I have done a little of everything with land animals and would like to learn a little about sea creatures. I volunteer with All 4 Cats and Paws 4 Purpose Rescue when I can. I write medical protocols for All 4 Cats and I transport animals for Paws 4 Purpose, as well as trap neuter, vaccinate and return cats in all of Onslow and surrounding areas.