Welcome Summer Interns!

Montana (lead), Mikayla, Holly, Dani, Lewis, Becca, Michael, Helena, Alejandra, Javelis

Summertime means a new team of summer interns! It's always fun to welcome these bright young students into the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. They bring new energy and a sense of joy in everything they do! In their own words, introducing the Summer, 2022 Intern Team!

My name is Montana, and I am the lead intern for summer 2022 at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Originally, I am from Upstate New York and grew up with my four brothers tumbling around the fields and forests around my backyard. At Cornell University I did a double concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Marine Biology, and I also spent three field seasons in Indonesia working with the most critically endangered rhinoceros in the world. Currently I am pursuing a masters degree at the University of Manitoba, and am trying to learn as much about sea turtles as possible! In the future I hope to be a conservation biologist and help shape international endangered species policy.

Hello! My name is Alejandra and I am a rising senior at Hunter College in New York City. I am a pre-vet student with a major in biochemistry and a minor in music. In the past, I have worked with small animals and farm animals, and this is my first time getting to work with sea turtles! I hope to become a small and exotic animal veterinarian, with an interest in reptiles. I am interested in animal rehabilitation and conservation, and want to incorporate this type of work into my career. I am excited to work with new people and animals, and contribute towards something bigger than myself. In my free time, I enjoy practicing piano, baking, exercising, and trying new foods.

Hello everyone, my name is Dani! I am currently an undergraduate student at North Carolina State University majoring in Animal Science with a veterinary bioscience concentration and minoring in Zoology. After graduation, I hope to attend veterinary school with a focus on exotic and wildlife medicine. In order to prepare for my future career, I work at a small animal hospital, a large animal mobile practice, and a reptile rescue. I am thrilled that this internship with KBSTRRC is giving me the opportunity to work with marine animals!

Hey I’m Helena! I am from NC and I go to Michigan State University (go green). I am majoring in Zoology with a concentration in Animal Behavior and Neurobiology. I loved being a junior intern the last two summers at the KBSTRRC, and I wanted to come back to learn more about sea turtle rehabilitation and conservation. I hope to go to vet school and eventually become a wildlife veterinarian. I am so excited to be a senior intern here this summer and work with the turtles and the public!

Hi! I am Holly and I am a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls! I graduated with a degree in Animal Science with an Emphasis in Science and Interest in Companion Animals.  I am coming to Surf City from my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, where we unfortunately do not have marine life. Experience wise, I have worked with many companion animals as well as cattle, horses, swine, sheep, or pretty much any other animal you would find on a farm.  I am very excited to learn more about and work with animals I don’t usually have a chance to interact with! I am very grateful for the staff and volunteers of KBSTRRC for allowing me this wonderful experience for this summer!

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Originally from Puerto Rico, Javelis is a recent graduate from Iowa State University with a B.S in Animal Ecology and Pre-vet. In the past, she has worked with domesticated animals, such as dogs, cats, sheep, and dairy cattle, but this is her first time working hands-on with sea turtles. On her free time, Javelis loves traveling, nature photography, hiking, rollerskating, and playing tennis. At the end of this internship, she will be attending vet school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to pursue a career in wildlife and conservation medicine.

Hi, my name is Lewis and I’m from Barnsley, England. I’ve always had an aspiration to work with and protect wildlife, especially sea related species despite living in the middle of the country! I graduated last year with a degree in Marine Biology from Bangor University, Wales and volunteered for a nearby aquarium during my final year. After graduating, I wanted hands-on conservation experience with marine mammals and so I interned for 6 months at a seal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Ireland! Gaining vital information of handling and caring for marine mammals and educating the public of their importance I then wanted to diversify the animals I work with and help effectively preserve keystone species. This opportunity at KBSTRRC is perfect for broadening my horizons in rehabilitation and conservation of marine life & I look forward to making a meaningful difference with such caring people!!

Hello! My name is Michael, and I am from Huntersville, North Carolina, just north of Charlotte! I graduated this May from UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) with degrees in Environmental Studies and Political Science, along with a minor in food studies. I have spent several years working in environmental education and wildlife conservation, including with the North Carolina Botanical Gardens, the City of Memphis, and several environmental startups. Last summer, I interned at Bald Head Island Conservancy, a sea turtle protection agency off the southern coast of NC. There, I fell in love with sea turtles, and I hope to learn more about rescue and rehabilitation this summer, while continuing to fuel my love for wildlife. Outside of work, I love to read, run, play the trombone, and perform improv comedy!

Hello, my name is Mikayla and I am originally from Cape Cod, MA but moved to Wilmington, NC in 2019. I will be a senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the fall. I am majoring in marine biology and also pre-vet. My plan is to go to NC State College of Veterinary Medicine to earn my DVM. My ultimate career goal is to become an aquatic veterinarian for a rescue and rehabilitation center. This past fall semester I lived in Alaska for four months studying marine mammals, that was such an amazing experience. I also have worked at a small animal hospital in Hampstead, NC. I am super excited to work at KBSTRRC this summer to learn more about sea turtles and gain experience working at a rescue and rehabilitation center!

Hi everyone! My name is Rebecca and I am a rising junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Go Heels!). I am an Environmental Studies major with minors in Marine Science and Music. I am planning to pursue a master’s degree in Marine Science and ideally work in coastal conservation in the future. I fell in love with marine life through scuba diving - I am currently a NAUI Advanced Rescue Diver, and I would love to use my scuba skills in my future conservation work. In my free time, I love exploring sinkholes and shipwrecks, playing my cello, and going to the beach! I am so grateful to the KBSTRRC for providing me with this incredible opportunity, and I am excited to learn more about sea turtle rehabilitation!

Montana (lead), Mikayla, Dani, Javelis, Holly, Michael, Lewis, Kylie, Becca, Helena, Alejandra