Elizabeth Bain
Hi! My name is Elizabeth Bain. I am a senior here at Riverview High School and I have lived in Sarasota my whole life. I joined the Stars to Starfish program because I love marine life and studying just how our oceans work, so I am really grateful to be able be involved in that here. In the future, I want to base my career around biology, particularly in animals. I enjoy being on the water and admiring the aquatic nature we have close to us in Sarasota. Some of my favorite memories have been made on the water like snorkeling, tubing, and the beautiful sunsets on boats.
Zach Brook
Hi! My name is Zach, and I am a senior at Riverview. I am a member of the Marine Club and have done many marine camps throughout middle school and high school. I also play varsity soccer at school, and of course I am a Stars to Starfish intern. I love going to the beach, boating, and hanging with friends . In the future I want to study marine biology, mainly corals.
Julia Brzozowski
Hello! My name is Julia Brzozowski. I am a Senior at Riverview High School. I grew up in Sarasota so I’ve been around the ocean basically my whole life. I love fishing, going to the beach, and going boating with my friends. I have also been competitively swimming for 12 years now so being in/around the water has been a huge part of my life. I joined the Stars to Starfish program because I love being around the ocean and exploring and learning about our marine life so I believe this program will be tons of fun and I will learn a lot of new interesting and important things about the sea and the marine life. Another fun fact about me is that I am going to be attending FSU next year for D1 swimming and I plan to go into a nursing program there.
Mason Dickens
My name is Mason Dickens and I am a senior at Riverview High School. I have lived in Sarasota all my life and I enjoy being on or near the ocean. I grew up boating and fishing and have been interested in marine life since I was a kid. The ocean has always been a big part of my life which is why when I heard about the Stars to Starfish program, I knew I had to join.
Adrian Eidge
Hi my name is Adrian Eidge and I decided to be an intern for stars to starfish because I am very passionate about the ocean and marine life. Some things I like to do for fun are fish, surf, and go out with my friends. In college I want to study marine engineering or work with the ocean in some way. My favorite thing in the Aquadome are the Snook tanks because they are fun to feed!
Maddison Ellis
My name is Madison Ellis. I am senior this year at Riverview High and have been given the opportunity to be an intern for the Stars to Starfish program. Throughout my years at Riverview, I have taken numerous science courses from Environmental Science to Marine Biology, and they all outline how to make our surroundings eco-friendly. My goal that I would like to achieve with this internship is spreading the knowledge of how valuable our environment’s health is in hopes to restore it for future generations.
Jorden Farmer
Hello! My name is Jorden Farmer, and I’m a senior at Riverview high School. I joined the Stars to Starfish program to help increase my knowledge of Marine Biology and get some hands-on experience in caring for marine life. I’ve had a fascination with the ocean as long as I can remember, even in Washington state on the west coast, where I’m from, where marine biology is much less active than Florida. I hope participating in this program will help me get a job in marine biology, and let me interact more with the ocean and all the beautiful creatures, and mysteries that lie in its depths.
Bella Fesko
Hey! My name is Bella. I’ve spent my whole life in Sarasota and grew up hanging out and spending time on Siesta Key. My dad grew up on the Key as well and it became a big part of his life and I’m fortunate enough to be able to do all the things that he was doing while he was growing up, such as boating, fishing and watersports. I like to spend my free time on the beach, and at Peace River and North Port, which is where I ride four wheelers and go mudding with my friends and family. Every year since I was born, my family has given us the opportunity to visit the keys at least once a year, and this has truly contributed to my passion for marine life. After high school I plan to study marine science at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, and I would really love to obtain a job working with marine life somewhere in the Keys. Last year my Internal Assessment for my IB Marine Class was focused on the micro fragmentation of soft corals, and I produced my own experiment, in which I grew corals in my classroom setting afterschool. This opportunity fueled my love for marine science and will definitely push my interest into the future, in which I can hopefully expand my knowledge and research on the topic of corals and coral restoration.
Kieran Herman
Hello there, my name is Kieran Herman I am a senior and have been involved in the marine science program since freshman year. I love competing against other high schools in national ocean science bowl and am proud to say my team got 2nd place last year in the spoonbill bowl. I love marine bio but I have a special interest in chemistry and love conducting experiments. I enjoy cooking, baking, and working hands on at cleanups and invasive removals. I also have a small business making customized rings where all profits go to the marine club.
Sophia Hernandez
Hi, my name is Sophia Hernandez and I am a senior here at Riverview. I was born in Wisconsin, so all I knew were indoor pools. I moved to Florida in 2011 and was instantly hooked on the ocean and its fascinating organisms. I am in the marine club and volunteer at many community service opportunities and fundraisers. I have been babysitting for 4 years and love to work with kids. My goal is to go to a university here in Florida and study to become a marine veterinarian.
Alex Kodra
My name is Alex Kodra, I am a senior at Riverview High School and am very intertwined with the marine science program here. I have been a part of the program since my sophomore year and have taken part in many cleanups and clam releases. I chose to go into this program to learn more about our marine ecosystems, which I love. My favorite activities include boating, fishing, jet skiing, and anything to do with the ocean.
Gillian Lagasse
Hi! I’m Gillian, currently a senior at Riverview High School, born in Sarasota Florida but grew up most my life in sunny Tucson Arizona. I’m a traveler and a thrill seeker, I enjoy animals and the outdoors. Since my freshman year, I have taken marine courses, volunteered as a counselor at our school’s marine summer program, and been a part of the Riverview Marine Club, I have even become one of the club’s Historians. I’ve joined the Stars to Starfish Internship so that I can become more involved with wildlife and work closely with others who share the same interests.
Gabrielle Landry
Hi! My name is Gabrielle Landry and I’m a senior at Riverview High School. I was born in Ft. Lauderdale, and moved to Sarasota at age 13. Since moving to Sarasota, I have been very interested in biology and Marine Science. Besides being in Stars to Starfish, I am also part of Marine club and co-existence club. Outside of school, I work at Marshall’s and love spending time with my family and being at the beach.
Hannah Mauer
Hi my name is Hannah Mauer, I am a senior at Riverview High School in the IBCP Marine Science Path. I moved to Sarasota in 2015 and have loved all the marine science opportunities I have had. I am a volunteer/intern at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and the Co-President of marine club. I was the team captain of Riverview’s National Oceanic Science Bowl Team B that won third place last year. I plan to stay in Florida for college and being a Stars to Starfish intern is a great way to do hands on learning and educating which I am very excited for!
Taylor McConnell
Hi! My name is Taylor McConnell and I am a senior at Riverview High School. I have been taking marine science classes since freshman year and am excited to have the opportunity to educate others on a subject I have a passion for. I have lived in Sarasota for 8 years now and love going to the beach any chance I get. I am happy to be a part of such a great program!
Diego McKenzie
My name is Diego McKenzie, I was born in Washington, DC and lived in Bethesda, Maryland before moving to Sarasota during 8thgrade. I wanted to become an intern for Star to Starfish program because it allows me to continue to satisfy my craving for science and work hands on in class. This program is one of a kind and strives to educate younger generations about our incredible and important blue world.
Gabe McKenzie
My name is Gabriel McKenzie and I am a senior at Riverview High school. I have been in the marine biology program at Riverview ever since I was a sophomore, and now am an intern for the Stars to Starfish program. Marine biology has become a great interest of mine over the last years. I plan on studying marine sciences in college and pursuing a career related to them afterward.
Gillian Michael
Hello! My name is Gillian and most call me Gilly, or Gilbert. I love marine science and have enjoyed being a part of the marine program this year. I have played soccer and run cross country for the school for two years now.I wanted to join stars to starfish to further my education through being involved in the studies itself. I look forward to seeing my fishy friends everyday! ☺
Ashlyn Piazzisi
My name is Ashlyn Piazzisi, and I was born in Aurora Colorado, but I’ve always called Sarasota my home. From a young age I was always in the water, whether it be on my family’s boat or at the beach. My mother raised me with the highest regards to living things, from the smallest coquina to a plump manatee. Being at the beach so much, a passion quickly arose. I joined Stars to Starfish with hopes to make a difference and enlarge the community of those who care about our oceans. I hope to continue with this career path and someday, hopefully, study wild orcas.
Sophia Pryor
Hi, my name is Sophia Pryor. I am a senior at Riverview Highschool. I moved from California to Florida in 7th grade. Once I moved here, I fell in love with the ocean and marine life. I enjoy going boating with my friends and spending my time in the water. This year I look forward to getting closer to marine life and furthering my study in marine biology.
Bethany Rahn
Hello, my name is Bethany! I’m a senior at Riverview high school, originally from the state of Wisconsin! I have a huge passion for marine science and oceanography. I’m striving to be a meteorologist one day. I’m a competitive swimmer, so I spend a lot of time in the water. My hobbies include all sorts of watersports. (Surfing, tubing, wake surfing, wakeboarding, paddleboard, etc.) Although this is my first official year at Riverview I hope to learn as much as possible, and help others learn as well. I’m looking forward to and exciting senior year working as an intern at Stars to Starfish
Caydence Rinell
Hi my name is Caydence and I’m a senior at Riverview High School. I have always been fascinated by marine life and outdoor activities, so when I heard about this program, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I grew up in Matlacha Florida where everyone is very involved in the community and helping marine life prosper, being a captain’s daughter I have started learning about the importance of taking care of our ocean from a very young age and am so excited to see what I can accomplish in the future.
Brooke Riley
My name is Brooke Riley, and I am a senior at Riverview this year. I am a swimmer for the Sarasota Sharks and I love watching new movies with my family. I joined Stars to Starfish because I enjoyed marine science when I took it freshman year, and IB marine when I took it last year. I love the ocean a lot and discovering the beautiful creatures that live there.
Addyson Smith
Hey y’all! My name is Addyson Smith, and I am a senior at Riverview High School in the IBCP program. I am from Hardee County, FL where agriculture is very respected, I moved to Sarasota middle of my 6th grade year. Since a very young age I have been interested in marine life, mainly snook, because I grew up going fishing with my dad every chance we got. He taught me the importance of respecting marine life, so when I got the opportunity, I signed up for a marine science class my freshman year and my life was forever changed. I cannot wait for this year and eventually I hope to go to college for marketing/sales, become a Realtor, and travel as many places as I can.
Juliette Stone
My name is Juliette Stone, I am a senior at Riverview High School. In my free time I enjoy spending time at the beach, boating, and spending time with friends and family. Living in Florida my entire life I have inherited an infatuation for the local marine life. The Stars to starfish internship gives students like myself an amazing opportunity to gain more knowledge, get hands-on learning experiences, help the environment, and most of all have fun!
Connor Wright
Hello! My name is Connor and I am 18 years old. I am a student at RHS and a member of the stars to starfish internship program. I am also a member of Marine Club and have been fascinated about the oceans and the environment in general since I was very young. I am also the vice-president of the National Technical Honors Society. In 11th grade, for my IA, I grew common duckweed at 6 different pH levels to figure out what is best for that specific plant. This gave me a deeper understanding of the intricacies of aquatic environments and furthered my love for marine science.
Blaire Yahraus
My name is Blaire Yahraus and I am a senior at Riverview High School. I am an intern for the Stars to Starfish Internship program and I was born in Sarasota, Florida. I have lived in Sarasota my whole life, so I am really interested in learning about marine science. In my free time, I love to spend time with my friends and go to the beach.
Ram Nation Aquascience 