Celebrating Interns for our 25th Anniversary!

Jakob, Justin, Jordan, Annika, Autumn, James, Chloe, Preston, Mason (lead), Hope

This year, we are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center's legal incorporation as a nonprofit organization. For most of our history, interns have been critical to our success. In fact, "to provide an experiential learning site for students of biology, wildlife conservation, and/or veterinary medicine from around the world" is written into our Mission Statement. So who are these intrepid interns that are making up our 25th Anniversary summer team? In their own words, here they are.

Hi! My name is Mason (lead) and I recently graduated from the University of North Carolina Greensboro with a degree in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Sciences. Throughout my life, I have always been drawn to all things in the natural world, but I rarely had the opportunity to delve into nature as much as I would have liked. I spent seven years volunteering at my local aquarium, where I would help take care of dozens of different species, but I always knew I would want to extend that knowledge further into the natural landscapes. When I started performing research in wetlands during my undergraduate education, I saw just how interconnected the natural world was and this sparked my wonder for how other ecosystems function as well. After taking multiple classes in marine biology and sea turtle conservation, I learned just how critical sea turtles are to the health of several important ecosystems. Then, I had the honor of visiting KBSTRRC with my class and I fell in love with the sea turtles and what the hospital stood for. Once my instructor told me that there is an internship working with these magnificent creatures for the summer, there was no doubt in my mind that I knew it was something I wanted to pursue. I hope to utilize all that I learn this summer as I go on to explore the wonders of coastal ecosystems and follow my aspiration to work in habitat restoration.

Hey, my name is Aishah. I’m from Atlanta, Georgia and attended the University of Georgia. I majored in marine biology and minored in ecology. I’ve always had a special interest in marine life growing up in Indonesia. I have dedicated myself to conservation volunteering in my local community stream cleanup. I hope to become a field researcher studying behavioral ecology in marine invertebrates. The KBSTRRC has shown me a different side of conservation caring for individual animals instead of the entire ecosystem.

Hello, my name is Annika and I am originally from Joplin, Missouri. After graduating high school, I moved to Pittsburg, Kansas to complete a bachelor's of science degree at Pittsburg State University with an emphasis on wildlife ecology and a minor in music. Fall 2023 will be my last semester before graduating in December. After finishing at Pitt State, I plan to enroll in a Veterinary Technician program so that I can continue exploring the medical aspect of wildlife conservation in a professional setting. My goal is to work in marine mammal rehabilitation, specifically with seals. I have always had a love for marine life and through my previous experience with birds, seals, dolphins, and sea turtles I have discovered my passion to conserve, protect, and care for our oceans. When I learned of the KBSTRRC internship, I knew it was something that aligned with my future plans and would provide me with valuable hands on experience in sea turtle care. I am excited to see what the rest of the summer holds!

Hi! My name is Autumn and I am a junior at Saint Francis University studying Aquarium and Zoo Science and a double major in Psychological Sciences. I’m also minoring in Biological Diving, American Sign Language and Animal Assisted Health and Education. I grew up in upstate New York about 30 minutes north of Syracuse. I didn’t have much experience with marine life, but I would visit the Wilmington area and Estero, Florida where I would see marine life. I had not heard about KBSTRRC until summer of 2022 and then when I visited in the Fall I fell in love with the place and the mission they have. I decided about 3 years ago that I wanted to do sea turtle rehabilitation. Moving forward I would like to work in marine rehabilitation but hopefully I can work in sea turtle rehabilitation. I am super excited to have this opportunity to pursue my dream career with these amazing people at my side:)

Hi!  My name is Chloe, and I’m from Northern Kentucky. I am entering my senior year at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. I have an Individualized Major, comprised of concentrations in Art, Biology, Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences. I am pursuing a career in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. Throughout my previous experience working with animals, there has been a strong emphasis on education and the importance of this in wildlife conservation.  Encouraging the general public to connect with animals and their stories through education is what inspired my interest in this kind of work at a young age, along with so many others! Helping animals and seeing visitors resonate with the hospital’s message is incredibly rewarding. Through my internship with the KBSTRRC, I have found a career that blends the conservation education that I find so important and the wildlife rehabilitation work that I love!  I am thankful and excited to be part of the Summer 2023 intern team!

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I'm Hope, and I'm from Greensboro, North Carolina, and I am an alumnus of UNCG and received my degree in Biology and a minor in Information Technology. However, my yearning and curiosity of animal’s pushed me to pursue wildlife conservation and rehabilitation. I took a sea turtle class at UNCG, and we visited the  a couple of times during our semester; after seeing the hospital's positive effects on its sea turtle population, it inspired me to apply for this internship. I'm ecstatic about this opportunity. I'm excited about everything I will learn from the turtles and the people here. After my time at the hospital I hope to continue gaining experience rehabbing and conserving animals around the world to prompt my higher education.

Hello, my name is Jakob. I am from Stoughton, Massachusetts and I am currently a  graduate student from Unity College. For years, I have had an interest in working with marine mammals and rehabilitating them. So ever since middle school I have been working towards a career in that specific field. As such I am pursuing a Master’s in Marine Science with the Conservation of Marine Mammals track for the graduate program. While my focus is on marine mammals, I have a passion for working with all animals. Interning at Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is currently the closest thing to what I want to do for my life, and I believe it is the next step for my career.

Hi my name is James. I am from Garner NC. I am going into my senior year at UNC Wilmington. I am majoring in Marine Biology and minoring in Music. As a kid I always knew I would work with animals when I got older. At first I wanted to be a veterinarian for domestic animals, but I was later introduced to what a cuttlefish was and I was hooked. My fascination for cuttlefish and other cephalopods sparked my interest into becoming a marine biologist. While I am still interested in cephalopods I wanted to do something that would involve me being hands on with marine animals. Even though I am torn between conservation of sea turtles and doing research on cephalopods I am honored to be interning with the KBSTRRC this summer.

Hey! My name is Jordan and I was born and raised in Chicago, but spend most of my time in Columbus, Ohio where I’m studying Zoology at The Ohio State University. I’ve always been interested in animals but have a specific curiosity with large mammals, which probably comes with growing up in such a big city where I rarely saw them. After working with various shelters and at the accredited John G. Shedd Aquarium at 16, I became interested in conservation as a serious career path. After I graduate in a couple of years, I want to go into rehabilitation specifically as it relates to human impact and wildlife crime, and use behavioral research to make strides in transitioning large numbers of animals from captivity back to their homes in the wild.

I'm Justin and I am from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina! Currently a senior at the University of Miami double majoring in Marine Science and Biology. Sea turtles have always been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, and ever since I was sea turtle camper back in high school I knew that I wanted to work at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital one day. So, being able to be an intern this summer is a dream come true. I plan on using this incredible opportunity to aid in my goal of becoming a sea turtle researcher using skeletochronology techniques to learn more about sea turtle foraging patterns, diet and behavior, to further advance conservation efforts of these magnificent creatures.

My name is Preston, and I am from Wilmington, NC. I recently graduated from Rhodes College with a B.A. in business and a minor in history, where I also played men’s lacrosse. I am attending UNC-Wilmington this fall to finish my prerequisites for veterinary school. Animal care has been a passion of mine since working at the Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral and volunteering at the Memphis Zoo. This is my first time working with marine life, but I enjoy it a lot. Helping animals with different medical needs makes the whole experience worthwhile and I am incredibly thankful to be a part of an organization that actively helps sea turtles in need and rehabilitates them until they are able to be released.

Jakob, Preston, Hope, Justin, Annika, James, Jordan, Chloe, Autumn, Mason (lead), Aishah