The ocean is a big place. It covers roughly 70% of our entire planet in water, making it one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. The ocean contains a multitude of life, from mammals and crustaceans to fish and life unexplored at the deepest depths of the sea floor. Despite being one of the most crucial ecosystems and diverse hubs on Earth, our oceans are some of the most polluted, misused and disrespected natural places on the entire planet. There is an entire island of trash in the Pacific Ocean that got its very own name for its massive size; The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We see videos on social media of bystanders finding animals stranded on beaches covered in trash with plastic bags in their stomachs and 12-pack can holders and fishing line strangling their necks. This type of world is unacceptable. There is simply no other word to use. It is unacceptable that we count on the ocean to soak up all of our greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. It is unacceptable that we spill monumental amounts of oil into our waters with little legal repercussions. It is unacceptable that we continue to over-fish our waters. The list is neverending. It is unacceptable. My name, Kalena, is Hawaiian. Although I am not a native Hawaiian, I have had the privilege of visiting multiple islands with my family over the years. I have seen the beauty of the ocean, and it is breathtaking. My parents named me after a Hawaiian legend of a princess named Kalena. They adored Hawaii and its culture and beauty so much that they named their firstborn because of it. I grew up surrounded by the beauty of the Texas countryside. It is a different type of beauty from what you can experience on the islands in the middle of the ocean. The two worlds are so contrasting. The diversity of life, the weather, the way the water fuels the Hawaiian economy, and so much more is one of the reasons that Hawaii has always had a special place in my heart. I have always been keen on protecting our natural resources and spaces since I was young. I have always known that when I went into the workforce as an adult, I wanted to do something with animals or nature. I was not always sure what, but I knew I would be helping keep our planet protected somehow. Although I am still in the discovery stages of my degree, I know that I will be in the realm of protecting our natural resources, encouraging diversity of life, and creating new solutions to solve problems facing the Earth. I want to use my education as a force of change for our oceans and our planet. I want to return biodiversity to our waters. I want to brainstorm new ways to keep trash out of our oceans. I want to help push for legislation that will slow greenhouse gas emissions. I want to be on the front lines of the war against the destruction of our planet. I want to educate others on what it means to be environmentally conscious. Most of all, I want to do what I love most; be outside, protecting the world I live in with all my might to make it a better place for generations to come.

I dream to be a great leader in the realm of sustainability, environmental activism, and protection for our world's most precious resources by working in our nation's national parks as a park naturalist to achieve my dreams of protecting the planet where we live and making the world a more environmentally educated place.

My name is Kalena Engeling, and I am a sophomore at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I am aiming to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science in the spring of 2025 to pursue my ultimate goal to preserve nature. Although environmental science is a very wide and varied field, I am interested in pursuing a career in natural resource management, particularly wildlife and vegetation management in the United States National Parks. My passion for nature and the immense beauty and power that it holds is the primary driving force for my career goals in the STEM field. One of the biggest influences in my life that pushed me towards this career path is my great grandfather, Gus A. Engeling. Although I never knew him personally, he stands for everything that my career goals in natural resource management aim to achieve. Gus Engeling was a game warden for the Fish and Wildlife department at the Darden Wildlife Management Facility near Palestine, Texas. In 1951, he was shot and killed by an illegal duck poacher in the park and the Darden Wildlife Management Facility was later renamed the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (GEWMA) in his memory. His story and influence on this wildlife area, which focuses on preserving indigenous wildlife and native habitats that are essential to Texas ecosystems, has helped me to realize my passion to protect the natural areas and resources across the United States in our National Parks. With my passion for nature driving me, I plan to graduate with my bachelor’s in 2025 and continue to graduate school to pursue research in resource management. With my master’s degree in Natural Resource Management, I hope to work with the United States National Parks Service to focus on protecting wildlife, habitat, and other natural resources across the United States. This scholarship will help me to cover the remaining amount of my academic costs for the semester, which is one of the most pressing obstacles I am currently facing in my academic career. Although I have been given a considerable amount of financial aid, I am in need of additional funds since I am funding the remainder of my education on my own. Additionally, I expect that I will encounter some obstacles in the STEM field as a woman in a male-dominated field. Although women have been closing the gender gap in STEM, it is difficult and oftentimes discouraging to fight for a place where we both belong and are sometimes unwelcome. I have not personally experienced any gender-based discrimination in my current field of study, but it is always a strong possibility in a primarily male space. I greatly appreciate your consideration for this incredible scholarship, and I hope you can help me achieve my goals to protect and conserve our natural resources and aid me in eliminating some of the financial obstacle that school presents. Nature is my passion, and I am looking forward to doing my part to keep it safe, healthy, and thriving for future generations.

When you walk into my bedroom, the first thing you see is plants. From monstrous ivies to succulent leaf propagations and cacti of all shapes and sizes, my room is full of succulents and houseplants from top to bottom. Currently, I own over 100 individual plants, each with a unique name, such as Malakai the Burro’s Tail and Balthazar the Golden Pothos Ivy. Since 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, my passion has been plants. Cultivating and collecting all kinds of living things has been my hobby and passion for two years, however, this hobby has become so much more than that; it has turned into a self-care regimen for my mental health and a business opportunity to share my passions for plants with the rest of my community. Plants have numerous health benefits, some scientifically backed, and some observed by gardeners and other plant cultivators and collectors like me. Scientifically, some plants have been shown to help increase productivity and improve your mood, making them an ideal companion for a college student. From the perspective of a gardener, cultivating plants and keeping them alive and healthy not only teaches responsibility for living things, but also dedication, respect for nature, and a love for the environment and all its offerings. Personally, plants have allowed me to lower my stress from life and school, and caring for my plants gives me an opportunity to detox from stress, learn to care for things that grow, and let me interact with nature in my own personal space. Naming all my plants has also had a massive impact on my relationship with my younger sister, Rowan. She helps me name most of my plants, and her suggestions always bring back fond memories and make us laugh together. Plants have helped to strengthen our bond as sisters. In addition to the health benefits that my plants have brought me, they have also provided me a business opportunity. This past year, I started my own small business with my sister called Root & Rock, where we sell our uniquely named plants in upcycled and thrifted pots, as well as crystals. Although each of our plants is loved dearly, we wanted to share the joy of having live plants, crystals, and interesting rocks in your home with our local community. Starting a small business has had its challenges, including financial struggles and navigating business formalities. My sister and I just successfully attended our first local metaphysical and wellness market in early June. Many of our plant friends sold, but none of our hand-picked crystals went home, leaving us brainstorming ideas on how to better incorporate the crystals in with our plants so they sell. Building a small business from the ground up has taught me how to be financially smart with my investments, researching to fairly price our products, and ways to effectively advertise and interact with my local community. Plants may not have always been my passion, but the outdoors have been. Being outside brings me joy, and I hope to use this scholarship money to fund my education to pursue a career that helps other people enjoy nature too. I am currently a sophomore at Baylor University where I plan to graduate in 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. I plan to go to graduate school for research in natural resource management to late continue into a career in resource management in the U.S. National Parks Service. My passion is plants, and plants have impacted my life in ways I never thought they could.

My name is Kalena Engeling, and I am a sophomore at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I am aiming to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science in the spring of 2025 to pursue my ultimate goal to preserve nature. Although environmental science is a very wide and varied field, I am interested in pursuing a career in natural resource management, particularly wildlife and vegetation management in the United States National Parks. My passion for nature and the immense beauty and power that it holds is the primary driving force for my career goals in its conservation. I was born in Georgetown, Texas in 2002, and as a Texas native, I am used to the heat and flat and varied landscape my state has to offer. Despite the heat, my family has always been outdoors. Whether it was camping as a kid, racing mountain bikes while in high school, or taking vacations across the country to see National Parks, I have always been outdoors in some form or fashion. Because of this love for the outdoors that was fostered in me as a kid, I have an innate desire to protect nature and all its offerings from the oftentimes harmful effects that humans have on our natural resources. In high school, I took AP Environmental Science, which was my first introduction to the “why” our planet is in such dire need of protection and conservation, and the ways that I can personally help. One of the biggest influences in my life that pushed me towards this career path is my great grandfather, Gus A. Engeling. Although I never knew him personally, he stands for everything that my career goals in natural resource management aim to achieve. Gus Engeling was a game warden for the Fish and Wildlife department at the Darden Wildlife Management Facility near Palestine, Texas. In 1951, he was shot and killed by an illegal duck poacher in the park and the Darden Wildlife Management Facility was later renamed the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (GEWMA) in his memory. His story and influence on this wildlife area, which focuses on preserving indigenous wildlife and native habitats that are essential to Texas ecosystems, has helped me to realize my passion to protect the natural areas and resources across the United States in our National Parks. With my passion for nature driving me, I plan to graduate with my bachelor’s in 2025 and continue to graduate school to pursue research in resource management. With my master’s degree in Natural Resource Management, I hope to work with the United States National Parks Service to focus on protecting wildlife, habitat, and other natural resources across the United States. This scholarship will help me to cover the remaining amount of my academic costs for the semester. Although I have been given a considerable amount of financial aid, I am in need of additional funds since I am funding the remainder of my education on my own. I greatly appreciate your consideration for this incredible scholarship, and I hope you can help me achieve my goals to protect and conserve our natural resources. Nature is my passion, and I am looking forward to doing my part to keep it safe, healthy, and thriving for future generations.

My name is Kalena Engeling, and I am a sophomore at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I am aiming to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science in the spring of 2025 to pursue my ultimate goal to preserve nature. Although environmental science is a very wide and varied field, I am interested in pursuing a career in natural resource management, particularly wildlife and vegetation management in the United States National Parks. My passion for nature and the immense beauty and power that it holds is the primary driving force for my career goals in its conservation. I was born in Georgetown, Texas in 2002, and as a Texas native, I am used to the heat and flat and varied landscape my state has to offer. Despite the heat, my family has always been outdoors. Whether it was camping as a kid, racing mountain bikes while in high school, or taking vacations across the country to see National Parks, I have always been outdoors in some form or fashion. Because of this love for the outdoors that was fostered in me as a kid, I have an innate desire to protect nature and all its offerings from the oftentimes harmful effects that humans have on our natural resources. In high school, I took AP Environmental Science, which was my first introduction to the “why” our planet is in such dire need of protection and conservation, and the ways that I can personally help. One of the biggest influences in my life that pushed me towards this career path is my great grandfather, Gus A. Engeling. Although I never knew him personally, he stands for everything that my career goals in natural resource management aim to achieve. Gus Engeling was a game warden for the Fish and Wildlife department at the Darden Wildlife Management Facility near Palestine, Texas. In 1951, he was shot and killed by an illegal duck poacher in the park and the Darden Wildlife Management Facility was later renamed the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (GEWMA) in his memory. His story and influence on this wildlife area, which focuses on preserving indigenous wildlife and native habitats that are essential to Texas ecosystems, has helped me to realize my passion to protect the natural areas and resources across the United States in our National Parks. With my passion for nature driving me, I plan to graduate with my bachelor’s in 2025 and continue to graduate school to pursue research in resource management. With my master’s degree in Natural Resource Management, I hope to work with the United States National Parks Service to focus on protecting wildlife, habitat, and other natural resources across the United States. This scholarship will help me to cover the remaining amount of my academic costs for the semester. Although I have been given a considerable amount of financial aid, I am in need of additional funds since I am funding the remainder of my education on my own. I greatly appreciate your consideration for this incredible scholarship, and I hope you can help me achieve my goals to protect and conserve our natural resources. Nature is my passion, and I am looking forward to doing my part to keep it safe, healthy, and thriving for future generations.

My name is Kalena Engeling, and I am a sophomore at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I am aiming to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science in the spring of 2025 to pursue my ultimate goal to preserve nature. Although environmental science is a very wide and varied field, I am interested in pursuing a career in natural resource management, particularly wildlife and vegetation management in the United States National Parks. My passion for nature and the immense beauty and power that it holds is the primary driving force for my career goals in its conservation. I was born in Georgetown, Texas in 2002, and as a Texas native, I am used to the heat and flat and varied landscape my state has to offer. Despite the heat, my family has always been outdoors. Whether it was camping as a kid, racing mountain bikes while in high school, or taking vacations across the country to see National Parks, I have always been outdoors in some form or fashion. Because of this love for the outdoors that was fostered in me as a kid, I have an innate desire to protect nature and all its offerings from the oftentimes harmful effects that humans have on our natural resources. In high school, I took AP Environmental Science, which was my first introduction to the “why” our planet is in such dire need of protection and conservation, and the ways that I can personally help. One of the biggest influences in my life that pushed me towards this career path is my great grandfather, Gus A. Engeling. Although I never knew him personally, he stands for everything that my career goals in natural resource management aim to achieve. Gus Engeling was a game warden for the Fish and Wildlife department at the Darden Wildlife Management Facility near Palestine, Texas. In 1951, he was shot and killed by an illegal duck poacher in the park and the Darden Wildlife Management Facility was later renamed the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (GEWMA) in his memory. His story and influence on this wildlife area, which focuses on preserving indigenous wildlife and native habitats that are essential to Texas ecosystems, has helped me to realize my passion to protect the natural areas and resources across the United States in our National Parks. With my passion for nature driving me, I plan to graduate with my bachelor’s in 2025 and continue to graduate school to pursue research in resource management. With my master’s degree in Natural Resource Management, I hope to work with the United States National Parks Service to focus on protecting wildlife, habitat, and other natural resources across the United States. This scholarship will help me to cover the remaining amount of my academic costs for the semester. Although I have been given a considerable amount of financial aid, I am in need of additional funds since I am funding the remainder of my education on my own. I greatly appreciate your consideration for this incredible scholarship, and I hope you can help me achieve my goals to protect and conserve our natural resources. Nature is my passion, and I am looking forward to doing my part to keep it safe, healthy, and thriving for future generations.

It is not everyday that you meet a blind dog, especially a Rottweiler-German Shepard puppy. Named for the iconic character from Top Gun, Jester is a big ball of uncontrollable fur, and is even more cute in person than this photo can convey. Jester is the happiest pup out of our 6 dogs, and this photo is him being his natural goofy self. He is such a lovable boy, and his disability does not ever stop him from living his best life. My instagram handle is @kalena_engeling, and I hope to have my fur baby featured on the Pettable Instagram!