Class of 2022

Below you'll find messages and photos from scholarship recipients.

Ben Ballard

Hometown: North Port, FL

University: University of Louisville

Mote Program: Coral Health and Disease

Dear Donors,

My internship has been unique, as I began in the main wet lab at Mote as we conducted experiments to determine which genotypes of coral are resistant to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, which is wreaking havoc on the native corals of the Florida Keys. Since that experiment has wrapped up, I am now generally out at Gene Bank helping to study the various corals in our care, and preparing for spawning season coming up later this summer.

Because I live in North Port, it is a near ninety mile round trip for me to drive to Mote every day. As you can imagine, the stipend will provide much needed relief for my commute expenses, and will allow me to travel to Mote and work more days of the week. Thank you so much for your generous donation, that helps me continue to help study these corals.

Ben Ballard

The photo is of me at the Mote Aquaculture Park, where I was working to apply RFID tags to test on coral plugs for eventual outplanting back to the natural reef system in the Keys.

Jessica McGinnis

Hometown: Lakewood Ranch, FL

University: Florida State University

Mote Program: Animal Rehabilitation

Hello,

My name is Jessica McGinnis and I am a current intern working with the Animal Rehabilitation Program at Mote. I was awarded a stipend and I wanted to say thank you to the generous donors that helped make this happen for me. This stipend has helped me cover the costs of gas when driving to and from work everyday and I am very grateful for the financial help.

So far my internship experience has been amazing and I am enjoying every aspect of it!! I love having independence when completing my daily tasks while also getting to work as a team with the other interns.

I have gotten to go on several night releases for the hatchlings which is an incredible experience to be able to participate in. I have also gotten to be a part of two green sea turtle releases, Waves and Professor Hinkle, which was by far the most amazing thing I have ever done.

Thank you again!!

Sincerely,

Jessica McGinnis

Logan Bentley

Hometown: Sarasota, FL

University: Florida Gulf Coast University

Mote Program: Ecotoxicology

Good afternoon to the donors of the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium,

My name is Logan Bentley and I am current interning as part of our ecotoxicology program. This internship requires a full time commitment and due to the current economic situation, it has not been fun regarding personal finances. However, thanks to your donations towards the Mote, I am able continue my work within the program without worrying about how I am going to pay for gas or groceries. I am truly thankful to have received this stipend and am thankful for the opportunity to continue my work on combatting red tide and other aquatic pollutants. Without your support, this wouldn’t be possible!

Sincerely,

Logan Bentley

Jamisen Jette

Hometown: Greshem, OR

University: University of Oregon

Mote Program: Ocean Acidification

Dear donors,

With this letter I want to thank you for awarding me the stipend for my internship at the Mote Marine Laboratory. As I continue to grow as a future marine biologist, please know the stipend was vital to the success of me being able to take part in the Ocean Acidification program.

Since then, I have started the internship and found a great group of friends. My internship consists of processing water quality samples and managing experiments within the Climate and Ocean Acidification Ocean Simulator. I will learn basic laboratory skills and be trained on an automated titrator and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) analyzer.

Last, I honestly believe the Need-based Stipend Committee appreciates the work that the interns are doing and awards these stipends to people who truly want to better themselves as biologists, chemists, or any other related profession. Thank you again and I wish everyone well.

Sincerely,

Jamisen Jette

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