Meet the talented students who are involved in this program this year. Based on informal surveys, approximately 41% of the former participants in this program go on to teach in classes, become involved in other informal education programs, museum studies, join other science outreach programs, start their own outreach program, start educational programs or camps, or other otherwise become involved in other aspects of science education. This is a training opportunity for STEM teachers of the future!
Maya Blanchard
Maya (class of 2026) is a Biological Sciences major with a concentration in marine biology. She grew up in Ithaca, NY and has enjoyed exploring the local trails and gorges all her life! Her favorite activity in high school was volunteering at the Ithaca Sciencenter, where she would teach visitors about the resident reptiles and tide pool creatures. When not in Ithaca, she tries to spend every possible minute near the ocean. She spent last summer at Shoals Marine Lab studying shark biology and conservation, and the previous summer in the Outer Banks learning about coastal erosion and mangrove forest ecology.
Adrian Codrington
Adrian is a junior studying Animal Science, aiming for a career in conservation medicine. His main interest is in tropical regions and herpetology, but he also supports local conservation efforts. He grew up in New York City and spends his free time working with wildlife rehabilitation. This past summer he was in Indonesia helping with rehab and community development. He enjoys doing outreach to promote the importance of conservation work and positive environmental interactions.
Cassidy Dobler
Cassidy is a student studying Entomology at Cornell with a minor in Education. She is enamored with the world of bees and as such spends much of her time working in Bryan Danforth’s native bee lab and the Cornell insect collection. As someone who spends much of her time studying insects, she is a huge fan of appreciating the details, finding beauty in the little things, and challenging people to approach what may be initially considered a little frightening. Her interest in education has largely blossomed from the time she spends every week at the Ithaca Sciencenter where she is an animal-handling volunteer. She loves getting the opportunity to introduce children and adults alike to concepts and animals they may never have seen before. As an educator (and especially as one who is often showing snakes, spiders, and crabs), one of her biggest goals is to encourage curiosity and introduce kids to things that may be unfamiliar with an attitude of appreciation and excitement.
Grace Dorward
Grace is originally from Dallas, Texas, but she loves the cold winters of the Northeast. Currently, she is a junior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences , majoring in Global Development and Agricultural Sciences. She hopes that studying the combination of social and physical sciences will allow her to get a greater understanding of human-nature interactions. She is not only looking forward to sharing her love of the environment through this program but also to connecting with other nature-loving individuals!
Samantha Durocher
Sam grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is a junior majoring in Environment & Sustainability and minoring in Entomology. At Cornell, Sam is the Vice President of Bee Club and coaches club rowing. This past summer she worked at a butterfly house on Mackinac Island where she was able to educate the public about butterflies and the other animals taken care of there! She is passionate about the natural world, and hopes to work in a career involving the conservation and ecology of insects.
Sarah Garcia
Sarah is a senior studying insect science! They grew up in New Jersey playing in the woods behind their house and hiking with their family, which definitely contributed to their love of nature. Sarah is interested in bioacoustics, vector biology, and science communication. A summer night spent listening to the crickets, katydids, and cicadas chirping is a night well spent in their book! As for vector biology, they spent this summer in Virginia studying how mosquitoes that bite frogs find their hosts. Sarah is also passionate about sharing their knowledge and love of science with others through teaching and outreach! In their free time, you might find them hiking, listening to music, or making arts and crafts.
Patrick Gritton
Growing up in middle Tennessee, Patrick developed a love for nature, and especially birds, in no small part because of the science outreach in his local community. Now, as a third-year undergraduate, he studies the diet and microbiomes of birds through fecal metabarcoding. Patrick has been involved in several research projects at Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology, including taking part in a long running study of seabirds off the coast of Maine and visiting Australia to conduct research on fairy wrens. Patrick is passionate about science and the birds he loves to study, and wants to share that passion with others through education and outreach.
Dashiel Handler
Dashiel is a senior majoring in Environment & Sustainability with a concentration in Biology and Applied Ecology. Hailing from New York City, Dashiel is passionate about understanding how people interact with their environments. On campus, he contributes to Psychology research and serves as a TA for a Field Biology class. In his free time, he leads Outdoor Education classes and has earned a Wilderness EMT certification to further his commitment towards supporting others in nature. Dashiel aspires to become a doctor to combine his knowledge of ecology and psychology in addressing environmental health issues.
Reid Harwell
Reid is a senior majoring in Environmental Engineering, with a minor in Science Communication. He first started his passion for ecology in the wetlands of Coastal Florida, and has shared his passion about the oceans at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. As an Eagle Scout, Reid learned a lot about living alongside nature and protecting it, especially through his project helping sea turtles at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Outside of learning new things as a scientist, Reid enjoys hiking, birding, and singing.
Laura Hernandez
Laura is a third year undergraduate student pursuing a major in Environment and Sustainability with a concentration in Land, Air, and Water Resources. Hailing from the Bronx, NYC, she brings a unique perspective to her studies, shaped by her vibrant community and personal experiences. Currently enrolled at Cornell University, Laura has demonstrated a deep commitment to understanding and addressing environmental challenges. Her coursework in the biological sciences and climate change, coupled with hands-on projects and research work, reflects her dedication to creating sustainable solutions for urban and rural landscapes alike. In her spare time, Laura enjoys exploring the natural beauty of Ithaca, raising plants, playing sports, reading, and spending time with loved ones!
Aniyah Hienski-Walters
Aniyah is a senior majoring in biology and is on the pre-health track. Her passion for animals, especially dogs, is matched by my love for nature. She has a French Bulldog named Apollo and enjoys exploring the outdoors. Some of her favorite activities include fishing, roller skating, and appreciating the beauty of butterflies.
Sadie Hoefer
Sadie is a junior studying entomology, with a particular interest in arthropod behavior. She first witnessed the wonderful complexity of arthropod life while relentlessly chasing grasshoppers and butterflies throughout the forest around her childhood home in Wisconsin. She has taught high school students about insects and spiders while surrounded by the wildlife in the woods of Minnesota, and hopes to spread love and fascination for even the creepiest of crawlies.
Muhammad Jee
Muhammad is a senior from Texas studying Information Science and Artificial Intelligence. He is passionate about tech entrepreneurship and building meaningful, future-facing and ethical AI products. Muhammad has a growing interest in biomimicry research, exploring how natural systems can inspire the design of algorithms, robotic systems, and sustainable technologies.
Ren Kondo
Ren’s passion for insects started when he was 7 years old and his relatives in Japan bought him his first ever pet Rhinoceros beetle. He was in awe of the impressive horn and the pure strength of the rhinoceros beetle, but like most kids he was still terrified of touching it. Eventually his love for insects outgrew the fear of touching them and now he studies them at Cornell!
Nina Maurer
Nina is a sophomore at Cornell, pursuing an independent major in the History and Narration of Medicine with a minor in German. She grew up in Portland, OR, where she developed a love for nature. Nina has always been fascinated by traditional medicine, particularly in relation to fertility, which is why she is currently involved in reproductive research at Cornell. Nina loves to inform others about plants, healers, witches, and how ancient medical traditions have shaped our current medical field.
Sabine Paz-Le Draoulec
Sabine is a junior majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a minor in Entomology. Raised by a single mother who ran farmers’ markets in New York, she developed a deep passion for food equity and agroecology. Now, she focuses on the science and policy of sustainable agriculture, with a special interest in integrated pest management (IPM). Currently, she is involved in research on IPM strategies for controlling the Colorado Potato Beetle. Sabine is passionate about using this class to inspire curiosity in kids, helping them see the connections between science and social issues.
Fern Pernat
Fern is a junior majoring in animal science with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine. Growing up, she participated heavily in 4-H which gave Fern her love for all kinds of plants and animals. She currently participates in research labs studying ecology and equine veterinary medicine. Outside of research she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and paddleboarding on lake Michigan.
Charity Phillips
Charity is a junior in Plant Science with an Education Minor. She enjoys nature and the outdoors and she loves being able to work with plants. She is also currently in a research lab that is working with tomatoes!
Isaiah Scott
Isaiah is a 21 year Environment and sustainability major at Cornell. He is concentrating in Ornithology and Science Communication. Isaiah has a passion for birdwatching, natural history illustration, and loves connecting young people to the natural world.
Cecilia Wagner
Cecilia is a Senior in Animal Science, with a concentration in wildlife & ecology. She worked at the Buffalo Zoo for seven years which fostered her love of the natural world and teaching. She loves nothing more than to be outside. She is particularly interested in invertebrates – from dragonfly larvae and water scorpions in small pools, to sea snails and mussels along rocky shores.