Interns 2013

Meet the 2013 summer interns!

Antonio Montemayor

I'm a local from McAllen, Texas. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Biology. My hobbies include playing music, the outdoors and traveling. I'm excited to assist with the long-term establishment of our population of Kemp's Ridleys and to be able to work with turtles so close to home.

Favorite Turtle Species: I have a special place in my heart for the hawksbills because I had a rare encounter with a daytime nester last summer in Costa Rica while sitting on the beach.

Bailey Lucas

I am from Madison, WI and received a B.A. degree in Spanish and environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. I am so grateful to be a Sea Turtle Intern and love working with so many people who care so deeply about our planet and all its creatures. I look forward to learning a wide range of new skills from assembling filtration systems to designing enrichment activities for sea turtles. I am so excited that I can incorporate my own interests into the job, such as fishing and crab trapping and practicing Spanish with the visitors. I also love camping, snorkeling, traveling and good conversations!

Favorite Turtle Species: The hawksbill because they help maintain coral reef ecosystems. And there’s nothing I love more than snorkeling through a beautiful, healthy reef.

Rachel Schott

I'm from Gladbrook, Iowa and I graduated from Luther College with a BA in Biology and Environmental Studies.  I love traveling and being outdoors with my dog. I spend most of my free time scuba diving/snorkeling, reading and listening to music.  I'm so happy to be here at Sea Turtle Inc., playing an active role in protecting and conserving such a threatened species.  I love going to work knowing I get to work with Sea Turtles every day!

Favorite Sea Turtle Species: The Atlantic green! When I was snorkeling in the Galapagos I had an Atlantic green come right up to me and it was amazing. My favorite green at the center is Wicked because he has a funny under bite!

Taylor LaFortune

I'm from Schertz, TX and I received my B.A. in Environmental Studies from Hendrix College. I enjoy traveling, meeting new people, spending time with friends and family, cooking, laughing, and hiking with my dog. I fell in love with sea turtles when I worked with them in Boston, and I honestly can't see myself working in any other field with any other species. I'm really excited to gain more hands-on experience this summer and I can't wait to see my first hatchling emergence!

Favorite Sea Turtle Species: The Kemp's ridley sea turtle is my favorite because they're small, feisty, and the first species I ever worked with. Jasper is my favorite turtle at the center - he's a fighter!

Eamon Donovan

My name is Eamon and I'm from Fullerton, CA. I like snowboarding in the winter, backpacking in the summer, playing the piano & the guitar, and long walks on the beach. I'm excited to work for Sea Turtle, Inc. because I've always wanted to study an endangered species and work with the ocean. I also enjoy it because it's a small non-profit which has proven that a few kind-hearted & determined people can change the world.

Favorite Sea Turtle Species: I like the Atlantic greens because they're the pacifists of the sea and the Kemp's ridley because they like to go to the beach with all of their friends.

Erin Tomaras

I'm from San Diego, CA and I received my degree in Environmental Studies and Marine Biology from the University of Washington. I'm looking forward to expanding my knowledge on sea turtles and gaining new found skills in the area of marine biology. However, what I am most excited about is engaging in more hands on work - not only with the turtles, but everything that goes into keeping the facility running.  When I'm not working, I love to cook, hike, scuba dive/snorkel, and read historical fiction.

Favorite Sea Turtle Species: I like the olive ridley because I worked with them in Guatemala and feel that they have the cutest hatchlings!

Abi Cassel

I'm from San Antonio, TX. I went to school in Ithaca, NY and got my BA in Biological Anthropology at Ithaca College. I just got accepted into A&M Galveston's Marine Biology program for the fall. The first time I saw sea turtles in the wild was in St. Vincent and the Grenadines during my field work. We got to swim with them in protected water and I fell in love with them. I want to pursue a career in conservation marine biology and my internship at STI is an amazing chance to see first hand the important work being done in the field and actually be a part of the process.

Favorite Sea Turtle Species: I think my favorite sea turtle species is the Kemp's Ridley. They remind me of little dragons, especially when they are younger. Not to mention they have an amazing, uplifting story.