Arthur R. Marshall Foundation Welcomes Five New Everglades Interns This Summer
Interns Hail from Coral Springs, Fort Myers, Stuart and Sunrise, Florida and Georgetown, Texas
(Lake Worth, FL – June 22, 2012) John Marshall, Chairman of the Board of the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation & Florida Environmental Institute, Inc., which champions the restoration and preservation of the greater Everglades ecosystem, today announced that five new Everglades Interns are working this summer with the nonprofit organization.
“Now in its 11th year, the Everglades Interns project is a signature program of the Marshall Foundation,” said Mr. Marshall. “This summer’s interns are researching the economic and ecological value of restoring sheet flow in the Everglades to counter rising sea level and water intrusion. Not only is restoring sheet flow of great interest to both the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, but it also was one of Art Marshall’s original goals.”
The 2012 Everglades Interns for the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation include:
+ Mary Crider, 23, of Georgetown, TX. She earned a B.S. in Marine Biology and a B.S. in Environmental Sciences at Nova Southeastern University, and an M.S. in Environmental Sciences from Florida Atlantic University. She believes that working with the Marshall Foundation this summer will help become an environmental educator who will “teach the public about the importance of various ecosystems and help then understand ways to minimize negative impact.”
+ Kyle Dollman, 21, is from Fort Myers, FL and is a senior at the University of Florida, where he is studying environmental engineering. “Being an intern for the Marshall Foundation means being an ambassador for the wise use and overall welfare of the environment,” he says.
+ Danielle Koushel, 21, is from Sunrise, FL and is a senior at the University of Florida, where she is majoring in Forest Resources and Conservation. She believes being a summer intern with the Marshall Foundation “means the ability make a difference. The opportunity to get involved with Everglades restoration and all its components is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
+ James K. O’Connell, 19, is from Coral Springs, FL. A third year student at the University of Florida, where he is pursuing a major in environmental engineering, Mr. O’Connell is looking forward to “a summer of development, education and fun. We are being immersed in the complicated system of Everglades restoration, and I believe we are making a positive difference.”
+ Karl “Max” Wallace, 20, is from Stuart, FL, and is a junior at the University of Florida, where he is studying agricultural engineering with a specialization in land and water resources. He believes being an Everglades Intern with the Marshall Foundation will be “a wonderful opportunity to learn from numerous mentors with a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise. My understanding of the history, politics, economic and science of restoring the Everglades grows tremendously each week. Hopefully, my fellow interns and I can continue Art Marshall’s legacy and help stress the need for restoration through our projects.”
The Marshall Foundation’s annual Summer Intern program started in late-May and runs through a special Graduation Celebration, which will be held on August 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Lake Worth Golf Club. The cost to attend the Graduation Celebration, which will include a light buffet, is only $50, with proceeds going to next summer’s intern program. To RSVP, please call 561.233.9004 or email [email protected].
“It is most gratifying to see the interns at graduation in the presence of proud parents, mentors and staff, and even more gratifying to see their work-products going out to the public and governmental agencies and influencing their actions,” added John Marshall.
About the Marshall Foundation’s Summer Intern Program:
Each year, several high-achieving, college-aged students participate in the Foundation’s award-winning summer internship program. The program is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers in the environmental sciences. Participants explore the ecology, geology, history and hydrology of the unique Florida Everglades, conduct fieldwork at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, and meet with key professionals and decision-makers involved in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
About the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation:
Based in Palm Beach County, the Marshall Foundation champions the restoration and preservation of the greater Everglades ecosystem through science-based education and outreach programs. Annually, more than 25,000 elementary and high school students in Palm Beach County actively participate in the Marshall Foundation’s various education programs.
Founded in 1998, the nonprofit organization has in recent years awarded more than $450,000 in scholarships and internships, planted nearly 100,000 native Florida trees in wetland areas, and involved more than 5,000 volunteers in hands-on restoration projects.
For reservations for the Aug 2 Graduation Celebration or more information about the Marshall Foundation, please call 561.233.9004 or visit www.artmarshall.org.
Photo: (L-R) Marshall Foundation’s Summer Interns 2012:
Karl “Max” Wallace, Danielle Koushel, Kyle Dollman, Mary Crider, James O’Connell
