Students 2022

I am a Jacksonville native in my junior year at the University of North Florida. I am a consultant, editor, and illustrator with experience working directly with clients from New York to London. My passions include learning about and engaging in sustainability and restoration. I want to participate in the Environmental Leadership Program because it aligns with my most important goals and values. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of a program that will help me to grow and fulfill my potential as an environmental leader.

I am a Junior here at UNF, and I plan to go onto medical school and become a hospitalist after I graduate with my B.S in Biology. I hope that through the Environmental Leadership Program, I can continue learning about what is going on in our world, and what I can do to help with problems like global warming/climate change and pollution. I would also love to learn ways in which I can be a leader and set an example for those around me with a sustainable lifestyle. Besides the environment, I am also passionate about writing, creating, and spreading kindness.

My name is April Thomas, and I am from Middleburg, FL just outside of Jacksonville. I wanted to participate in the Environmental Leadership Program to help work in the community on improving the natural areas remaining, and to incorporate more green and sustainable ways of living in our community. My interests range from marine ecosystems and coastal habitat restoration to organic agriculture practices. I am excited for the opportunity this program will give me so that I can give back to the local community.

I fell in love with marine biology at a young age when I found my very first shark tooth. After taking an Environmental Science class in high school where I learned about the threats faced by the sea and its impact on the terrestrial environment, I decided to turn this passion of mine into a career. Participation in the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) will allow me to develop the necessary leadership and advocacy skills to make a significant contribution to the field both academically and in my chosen profession.

“Hello! My name is Atalia Vazquez, and like most, I’m a Nutrition and Dietetics major. I love burritos, nature, and my family, not in that particular order. I don’t have my life figured out, but I believe that if I keep choosing to do what I love, then I’m heading in the right direction. Nutrition fascinates me because it empowers us to nourish and love ourselves. Food is such a powerful thing in our lives, and sharing what we know about it is one of the most humbling and fulfilling aspects of being part of NutriNews. “

My name is Cameron Tefft, and I am a first year student at UNF. Creativity has always been a primary motivation for me, whether it be playing Euphonium in the marching band, guitar, or making art, I can always be found making something. I recently exhibited an art show focused on our interaction with the environment, which is a major theme that I explore in most of my work. I became passionate about the environment after I took Environmental Systems and Societies in high school, and learned about the true value that the environment has and how little we do to protect it. I hope that I may continue to do work spreading awareness and making a positive change towards a more sustainable future with the ELP.

My name is Eleanor Ascheman and I am a junior at UNF. Since my father was in the military I do not have a hometown per se, but I am most recently coming from Greenville, SC. I am currently working towards a BA in statistics and a minor in leadership, and I am planning to graduate in spring of 2023. Before starting college I took a gap year and worked with FEMA as a planning specialist in California and Puerto Rico. Now in college, I am part of the Hicks Honors College and enjoy doing activities with the Institute of Environmental Research and Education. After college, I hope to work doing some sort of environmental resiliency to natural disasters, focusing on preemptive care to save having to take extreme response measures.

I have always had a love of animals, and an interest in saving the environment. That is why I am minoring in Biology, to find a career path involving animals or the environment in some way. Growing up I was homeschooled, and would always play in the woods outside my house. There were many beautiful spiders there, which are my favorite animals. I hope to make a difference in the world, and I believe the Environmental Leadership Program can help me to do that.

My name is Erin Ogrodnik and I am a second-year Biology student in the Hicks Honors College. I have a passion for protecting the environment and conserving wildlife and I am currently pursuing a career in Wildlife Biology. I am the current president of the KAO, UNF’s Environmental Honor Society. In my free time, I enjoy trying new foods, tending to my plants, and watching documentaries.

I am excited and thankful to be a part of the Environmental Leadership Program. Although I have not yet been selected for a program, I am hopeful to be in the UNF Plastic Pollution Project. As a young environmentalist, I am passionate about cleaning up the environment and preventing further damage. A fun fact about myself is I currently work with oysters! Not only are they delicious to eat, but they can help restore and protect our shorelines.

I am currently a Junior at UNF working on my bachelor’s in health science with a concentration in Public Health. I also work at First Coast Chiropractic where I began as an intern in 2019 and worked my way up to billing manager. During my Public Health Research class, I was introduced to the Environmental Leadership Program. I believe this program will help me grow as a student along with strengthening my networking and leadership skills and I am excited for the projects I will get to participate in in the future.

I have been interested in marine life since the first time I had ever watched Finding Nemo when I was only about 5 years old. I have continued to do research regarding the wide loss of Coral growth throughout the coastal Floridian waters, alongside major research revolving around the BP oil spill in 2010. This led to a video that I wrote and directed regarding the BP spill for my Marine Science class in high school. Many people believe that economics is only about money, although it involves all sorts of scarce resources including our vital coral reefs around Florida, which is why this is important to me as a subject.

Hello, I’m Nathaniel! I’m involved around campus and heard about the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) from other members in the KAO Environmental Honors Society. Through the ELP I hope to develop career skills in relation to my environmental interests, as well as further developing myself and networking with other like-minded individuals. Besides the ELP and KAO, I’m involved with the North Florida Green Chamber as the UNF student representative, the Interfaith Center, the Presidential Envoys, the Honors College as a Facilitator, and I serve as the University and Student Affairs Chair in Student Government. In total, environmentalism is a big passion of mine, and I’m looking forward to advancing related efforts along with myself through the Environmental Leadership Program!

My passion for the environment dates back to my childhood years. Since I was a child, I have always had a heart for the outdoors and the natural beauty the world has to offer. Whether it be fishing, camping, or surfing, I have always felt most at home in Florida’s outdoors. One day, I would like to work as a park ranger or work in environmental restoration and conservation services. I believe the Environmental Leadership Program is a great way for me to grow as a leader and serve my community. I look forward to growing with my peers and the opportunities I will receive through this program.

Salutations! My name is Ruby Cox, and I have been a Jacksonville local for over 15 years, & my interest for environmental conservation and sustainability was sparked by this beautiful city at a young age, when I wished to celebrate each year by doing beach/city cleanups rather than birthday parties. That was just the beginning, my love for this community continues to grow daily and working with groups such as Feeding Northeast Florida, Girls Gone Green, Cleanyour904, and Beaches Go Green has given me a blueprint for what I would like to pursue post my bachelor’s degree, teaching and constructing more sustainable ways of living for people in our community and globally! I especially find myself drawn to helping communities learn on an household-individual level what works best for them, from starting home gardens in neighborhoods in food deserts to teaching communities the importance of safe & sustainable water consumption in places without regulations, to even creating limiting waste plans for local businesses, I really feel drawn to working closely with people who need it most. I look forward to a career in helping teach people to not only enjoy our environment but learn how to protect & nourish it as well!

I am excited to be a part of the Environmental Leadership Program this year to strengthen my understanding of leadership and personal skills in this area, as well as to learn more about environmental sustainability. Apart from this program, at UNF I am involved in the Hicks Honors College and the Millennium Fellowship. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors especially spending time at the beach, hiking, and as of recently—kayaking! Some fun facts about me are: I lived in Hawaii for two years when I was in elementary school, I have been a vegetarian my whole life, and I love to travel and in particular I would love to go to Greece because I love Ancient Greek mythology.

I am a transfer international student from France, interesting in management and leadership. I am curious about plenty of subjects. As a vegetarian, I have an interest in nutrition, sport, and environmental global warming. In addition to these hobbies, I am also involved in law and news related to business. The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) will help me grow and develop my leadership, networking, and communication skills. But also visualizing and creating a workable strategy for the achievement of the goals. I am expecting myself to pilot a project and be independent during this process while following the values of the company. Some facts about me: I really enjoy traveling and already visited more than 12 cities in America. I am passionate by mode, but I try since these past years to fight fast fashion by buy-in thrift store.