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!

There were bikes. There were riders. There were costumes....
There were turtles. There were skeletons. There was a turtle riding tandem with a skeleton! Best of all, there were 150 riders, their families and supporters, event committee members, volunteers, and sponsors who came together to help and celebrate turtles.

This annual event started four years ago with an idea among a group of riders from the Salty Turtle Cycling Club. The first year involved just a handful of riders. By the second year, they decided to benefit a local nonprofit - KBSTRRC - and the event took off. The 2025 Haunted Hundred was the most successful to date raising $16,500 for KBSTRRC!

On behalf of the board, volunteers, staff, and most of all the turtles of the KBSTRRC, THANK YOU!

The 4th annual Surf to Sound 5K on September 7th was the most successful to date, raising $16,967 to help save, conserve, and rehabilitate endangered sea turtles!

Despite a drizzly day, 711 registrants participated in the event and had fun doing so! Experienced runners joined occasional joggers, walkers, and Ainsley's Angels to celebrate turtles as well as the landscape, businesses, and community that make up Hampstead, Topsail Island, and Surf City.

Starting in Soundside Park in Surf City, participants headed across the Surf City Bridge and down to Atkinson Point. At the halfway point, participants looped back toward the island, enjoyed one more pass across the Surf City Bridge - tougher on the way back! And then crossed the finish line in Soundside Park - all while taking in the Topsail Sound and views of the Atlantic Ocean for about 3.1 miles.

Congratulations to Ryan Hastings, top male runner (17:28.3), and Mackenzie Fullen, top female runner (23:11.7). And flipper high fives to  all who ran, walked, jogged, or rolled the course. Click here for all the race results!

Many thanks to James and Meredith Worsham for organizing a turtle-y awesome race! Over the four years they've organized this race, they've raised $56,246 for the turtles! That's a lotta fish and medicine!

• Thank you to Go Time for race support, including registration, logistics, and timing.
  
• Thank you to Trinity Studios for beautiful photos!
• A heart felt thank you to all the event volunteers! You made this day possible.
• And special thanks to Topsy, sea turtle extraordinaire!

Flipper hugs to our generous sponsors! When you visit these fine businesses, please extend your thanks for their support of the turtles and KBSTRRC.

Title Sponsors:
Carolina Coast Contracting
Coastal Carolina Real Estate
Jackie & Jeff James

Packet Pick-Up Host:
Salty Turtle Beer Co.

Booth Sponsor:
Margherita Pizza Co.
The Petting Zoo

Finish Line Sponsor:
Saltwater Resort & Suites

Additional Sponsors:
Nautical Bowls
Kathy Zagzebski