Meet the Interns 2024-25

Logan Cocco

Hello, my name is Logan Cocco and I’m a senior at Riverview High School. In my free time, I enjoy fishing, golfing, watersports, and playing baseball and pickleball. I fish both freshwater and saltwater and recently traveled to Montana for trout fishing. I go grouper and snapper fishing in the gulf often while tubing and wakeboarding in the bay. I take summer trips to North Carolina to stay on Lake Santeelah for a week.

Gabriella Gonzalez

Hi! My name is Gabriella Gonzalez, and I am a senior here at Riverview! I moved here 3 years ago from Texas and have been around the ocean since. I love going to the beach and hanging out with my friends.  I have been competitively swimming for 7 years now so being in/around the water has been a huge part of my life. I am so excited to be an intern in Stars to Starfish to learn more about marine animals and the sea. 

Joanna Graczyk

Howdy! My name is Joanna Graczyk. I am a senior here at Riverview. I was born in Maryland, but have lived in Florida for a few years now. I have always loved animals, especially birds. In fact, I have raised and rescued over 70 birds on my small farm in Myakka. I was excited to join Stars to Starfish to be able to teach younger students about our local environment and all of the types of marine species.

Gabby Harper

Hi! My name is Gabby Harper, and I am a senior at Riverview High School. I have lived in Sarasota my whole life and have fallen in love with the ocean and marine animals, I love spending my time at the beach, paddleboarding, boating, and watching sunsets. I am in the marine science IBCP pathway and knew that the Stars to Starfish internship would be perfect for me. I am so excited for the new opportunities and experiences in this program and to teach it to future generations! 

Brennan Harris

Hi! My name is Brennan Harris and I’m a senior at Riverview High School. I started taking marine biology classes because marine life and the ocean have always interested me. I was born in Indiana but later moved here to Sarasota when I was 6. I enjoy playing games, hanging out with my friends, and listening to music! My favorite artists are Radiohead and Pierce the Veil. 

Samantha Keptner

Hi! My name is Samantha Keptner and I am a senior here at Riverview. I moved to Sarasota from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania before my junior year. Having the luxury of living close to the ocean has further induced my love for marine life. I joined the Stars to Starfish internship because I love animals, and learning about the diverse ecosystems of our planet. I enjoy going to the beach and being on the water anytime that I can. In the future, I plan on attending USF on a pre-veterinary track to continue working with animals! 

Lillian Lohmann

Hi! I’m Lillian Lohmann, a senior at Riverview High School in the Stars to Starfish program. Originally from Germany, I’ve been living in the US since I was seven and have always loved the ocean, especially after moving to Florida. I’m involved in many clubs, run cross country, and am an IBCP student focusing on marine science. I love baking, skating, and, of course, going to the beach. Once I leave for college, I plan on going to medical school to become a pediatrician. I first visited the Aqua dome when I was in fourth grade, and now it’s funny and a full-circle moment to be one of the interns showing fourth graders around. Let’s go, Class of 2025 

Zsofia Lukacs

My name is Zsofia Lukacs and I found out about Stars to Starfish in elementary school which is when I fell in love with the program. I didn’t know that Riverview offered this program until middle school where I did the Riverview school tour. I started this program in sophomore year with Mrs. Rudge where I only became more interested in marine science. Now in my senior year, I’m finally in my dream internship and doing my own research about the creatures I adore.

Sophia Nikias

Hello, my name is Sophia. I am a senior at Riverview High school. Ever since I was little, I have been interested in sea life. I have always aspired to work in the marine field in the future as a career. Due to this fact I as soon as I heard about the marine classes and programs this school offers, I quickly applied for them. Taking these classes has flourished my interest and knowledge in marine biology. I am excited to work in this program and introduce the wonders of marine science to younger generations. As well to aspire them to learn more about marine life and learn to take care of the animals and the ocean as it’s an important part of our world.

Senna De Oliveira

Hi! My name is Senna De Oliveira, I am a senior at Riverview High School, and I have lived in Sarasota Florida my whole life. I joined Stars to Starfish because I love helping and teaching people about marine life. I am very glad I am a part of this program to expand my knowledge of marine biology during my senior year. Out of school I am a competitive dancer, and I’m involved in volunteer activities.  I love to go the beach, Jet skiing, and boating. In the future, I was to base my career on biology and become a dermatologist.

Mason Peluso

My name is Mason Peluso, 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 kayak cleanups. I chose to go into this program to learn more about our marine ecosystems, which I love. My favorite activities include surfing, fishing, boating, skimboarding and swimming. 

Isa Rivero

Hi! My name is Isa Rivero, and I am a senior here at Riverview. I moved to Florida from Venezuela 6 years ago. My family would always take my sister and I on beach trips every holiday, so I grew up vacationing around water. One of my favorite things to do is go to the Keys with my friends and snorkel around all the different keys. I was first interested in the program my freshman year when I took biology and then I decided to take Honors Marine Science my sophomore year and decided to pursue further by applying to the IB Marine Science Career Pathway. When I held a starfish for the first time when I was 5, I knew that this was something I was interested in, so I decided to pursue this career to learn more about the field and about our sea animals! I know this program will allow me to get hands on experience and teach me how to take care of our marine life and learn so much more about them.  I look forward to working in the Star to Starfish program and I can’t wait for all the new opportunities and experiences this program is going to teach me.  

Landon Schemel

Hello, my name is Landon Schemel and I am a senior here at Riverview High School. I moved to Sarasota 2 years ago from Indiana. The water has been a huge part of my life for a while now as I am a competitive swimmer. I love fishing and spending time with my friends and family. I joined stars of starfish for my love of marine bio and the water.

Hailey Senevey

Hello!! I am Hailey Senevey and I am a senior at Riverview Highschool. I am a big fan of birds! I own a few geese, ducks, and even parrots. I’m also in the kiltie band and spend a lot of time playing flute and piccolo. For college I’ll be going for music performance and wildlife. I joined the Marine program to teach others about the environment and amazing animals!

Lauren Steinhoff

Hi! My name is Lauren Steinhoff, and I am a senior in the IB Marine Biology Career Pathway and Stars to Starfish Internship Program at Riverview High School. I am a percussionist and officer for the Kiltie Marching Band and one of the goalies for the varsity RHS Lacrosse team. I enjoy fishing, boating, hanging out with friends, playing in the band, and listening to music. Ever since I was a freshman, my passion has been working in the marine science program at Riverview. I am grateful to be given the privilege to be one of the student interns for this program and can’t wait to dive into what this year is going to bring me.

Kyler Stidd

I am a senior at Riverview High School, I play outside linebacker for the varsity football team. In my spare time I love fishing, cooking, and working out. I boxed for a while and am an outdoorsy person. I have always loved and cared for animals.   

Skylar Stone

Hi! I am currently a student at Riverview High School taking part in the Stars to Starfish internship. I grew up in Sarasota and have always enjoyed marine life whether it was going on field trips to Mote or going to the beach. I joined this program because I love helping the animals and the school with the aqua dome. I can’t wait to teach the younger kids and inspire them as much as I have over the years! 

Sean Vargai

Hi! My name is Sean, and I am a senior here at Riverview. I have done many marine camps over the summers throughout middle school and high school. I have moved around a lot of my life and I have lived all over the country. I play varsity soccer, and I am a Stars to Starfish intern. I love going stand-up paddle boarding and going to the beach to see all the animals I can find. In the foreseeable future I would love to become a Zoologist and work at zoos or conservation efforts.

Erika Villalobos-Pedraza

My name is Erika Villalobos-Pedraza and I’m a senior at Riverview Highschool. My passion for the ocean was sparked during childhood trips to MOTE Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, where I first fell in love with marine life. This passion has only grown stronger over the years, leading me to volunteer as a Junior Educator in Training (JET) at MOTE. I’ve consistently dedicated my time to this organization, gaining invaluable experience and reinforcing my dream of becoming an aquatic veterinarian. As a senior at Riverview High School, being part of the Stars to Starfish program is another step toward making a lasting impact in marine conservation and animal care.

Kathlyn Yanguez

Hi! My name is Kathlyn Yanguez, and I am a senior here at Riverview High School. I have taken multiple science classes throughout my high school experience and have come to find that Marine Science is my favorite. I’ve been interested in the Stars to Starfish program and IB marine science since junior year after participating in my first marine science class. I fell in love with the class’s environment, and I’m excited to learn more about the ocean, and the creatures that embody it.