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Marissa Johnston

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Finalist

Bio

Hello! I am Marissa Johnston and I am a sophomore at The Ohio State University Honors College majoring in Zoology. I graduated from both Olentangy High School and the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium School. My foremost passions include advocating for animals and the environment through my self-led environmental club, Eco Summit team, and a speaking at a number of conferences; rescuing animals; biking; playing my clarinet, ukuleles, and piano; and educating people on the importance of STEM. As an active leader in my community, my most defining characteristics are integrity, diligence, communication, and most importantly self-sacrifice. In competitive academic environments in particular, I make helping others my utmost priority because without my peers I would not be where I am today. I also strive to demonstrate academic initiative, a higher form of character, and to take ownership over my own decisions and participation in anything I join or take on. This is especially present in the 200 hours of service I've competed over the past two years alone with a number of organizations. In addition to my volunteer work, I am also apart of National Honors Society, National Technical Honors Society, an AP Scholar with Distinction, a Silver and Gold award Girl Scout, and a former Ohio Wildlife Center intern. I am committed and thorough in all my work; therefore, I am always open to new opportunities, extracurriculars, and educational experiences that will further enhance my talents, character, education, and leadership qualities.

Education

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Bachelor's degree program
2022 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Zoology/Animal Biology

Delaware Area Career Center North Campus

High School
2020 - 2022

Olentangy High School

High School
2018 - 2022

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
    • Environmental Design
    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
    • Marine Sciences
    • Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
  • Planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Veterinary

    • Dream career goals:

      Traveling Wildlife Veterinarian

    • Learned all concepts and techniques behind rescue, care, animal restraint, record keeping, and adoption. Fostered dogs and kept record of health statuses, ensure safe/clean living conditions for animals in the shelter, and overseeing suitable adoptions.

      Rico Pet Recovery
      2020 – Present4 years
    • Project aims to reduce the number of unvaccinated animals in rural Ohio through free vaccine clinics in addition to educating a broader audience on other rescue, adoption, and pet care topics. Administered vaccines/ medications during clinics.

      Care for Poki (Girl Scouts Gold Award)
      2020 – Present4 years
    • Manage facility for resident wildlife by providing animals with proper care, diets, enrichment, sanitation of enclosures, and training for community programs. Such animals include aves, reptiles, opossums, raccoons, rats, and foxes.

      Ohio Wildlife Center
      2021 – Present3 years

    Sports

    Soccer

    Club
    2009 – 20123 years

    Softball

    Intramural
    2015 – 20161 year

    Baseball

    Intramural
    2013 – 20152 years

    Awards

    • Placed 2nd in end-of-year tournament

    Research

    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

      Olentangy High School — Researcher
      2019 – 2020
    • Social Sciences, General

      Olentangy High School — Researcher
      2019 – 2020
    • Business/Managerial Economics

      AP Classroom — Researcher
      2019 – 2020
    • Biological/Biosystems Engineering

      AP Classroom — Researcher
      2019 – 2020
    • Animal Behavior

      Columbus Zoo and Aquarium — Researcher
      2020 – 2021

    Arts

    • Ohio Metro Parks

      Photography
      "Double Dove" (2019 Best in Show piece) and other wildlife photography entries
      2016 – 2019

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      OHS Environmental Club and Eco Summit Team — I founded and continue to lead both my school's Environmental club and Eco Summit team and secured a $2000 grant to build gardens beds and start our environmental sustainability efforts within our school.
      2019 – Present
    • Public Service (Politics)

      Scioto Area Corps Cooperating Association — I founded and lead Junior SACCA and assist in applying for grants, hosting recreational events, fundraising, and run the SACCA website.
      2020 – Present
    • Public Service (Politics)

      FLL ACES Team — I founded this team as part of my Girl Scout Silver Award and led and mentored students on robotics and STEM.
      2018 – 2020
    • Public Service (Politics)

      Care For Poki — I founded this organization as part of my Girl Scout Gold Award project and I continue to run it alongside several cooperating organizations today. I also host and run the CareForPoki.org website and social media accounts.
      2020 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Stockhands: Horses for Healing — I was tasked with cleaning, tacking, and leading horses for and during lessons as well as feeding and watering horses, mucking stalls, and sidewalking with riders.
      2018 – 2021
    • Volunteering

      Delaware County Humane Society — To socialize incoming animals; encourage community members to foster, adopt, and donate; and to maintenance rescue facility.
      2017 – 2020
    • Volunteering

      Rico Pet Recovery — Rescue and socialize animals from in and around Ohio as well as volunteered to foster dogs as well as maintenance main rescue facility.
      2020 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Barbie Dream House Scholarship
    Nestled amidst the lush greenery and captivating wildlife of Bikini Atoll's beachfront, my Barbie dream house has transformed a nuclear test site into a picturesque retreat. It stands as an embodiment of open-air elegance and eco-conscious architecture. The three-story mansion exudes an organic charm with its bamboo-clad exterior, expansive second and third-floor windows, and an unenclosed first story elevated on sleek black stilts. Ascending the natural stone steps to the second floor, visitors are welcomed by pristine white French doors. A floating veranda wraps around the entirety of the house; adorned with clematis, wisteria, and ivy. A seamlessly integrated courtyard is visible from every level of the house for natural ventilation and uninterrupted views of the ocean. Inside, the house is furnished with nature-inspired decor, like variegated and irregularly-shaped moss rugs and floral-patterned furniture. The living room accommodates a panorama view of the ocean where the uninterrupted view of dolphins, orcas, and other sea-life add a touch of magic to the scene. The back wall is full of books; some completely unopened and others with the binding barely hanging on. The couch and two chairs are a sea-foam green and sit beside a bio-ethanol fireplace. The kitchen is a symphony of eco-friendly materials, boasting recycled glass countertops that shimmer with a kaleidoscope of colors under the three skylights. The backsplash tiles form a mosaic of underwater creatures that migrate onto the white, reclaimed wood cabinets. Above the induction cooktop, a range hood with a built-in air purification system ensure that cooking emissions are filtered and cleansed before being released into the environment. A farmhouse sink is staged underneath a small window. A large outdoor balcony is attached to the kitchen, where guests can be seated and a ladder leads to a rooftop garden full of herbs, vegetables, and fruits. A quaint hallway unveils an open room where live trees reach towards the second story. The walls are covered with moss, rock, and a variety of purple and red mountain flowers. A spiral staircase winds around a crystal clear waterfall. Each of the four second-floor bedrooms embody a distinct theme: oceanic retreat, jungle adventure, birdwatcher’s haven, and savanna serenity. In the first water-inspired bedroom, two of the walls are painted calming shades of blue and adorned with seashells and driftwood decor. A large oceanfront window and a saltwater tank full of soft corals, damselfish, and chromic cover the other two walls. The bedding features marine life patterns like sea horses, sea turtles, and coral reefs. The jungle bedroom boasts various potted indoor plants and vines as thunderstorm sounds play in the background. Leopards and toucans are carved into the up-cycled wood furniture and the bedding and throw pillows showcase other exotic jungle animals. For the bird enthusiasts, the birdwatcher’s haven bedroom features a window dome as the ceiling and the bed is set in a woven base; imitating a bird’s nest. Bird feeders are attached to the 360 degree view, which allows for endless birdwatching. The last bedroom captures the essence of the African savanna. Projectors display zebras, lions, and elephants walking across the African landscape painted on the walls. Sustainable decor elements like ethically sourced animal horns, woven baskets, and African artwork adorn the space. My dream house serves as a testament to my passion for environmental sustainability and animal advocacy and symbolizes of nature's resilience, thriving even in the face of human-made challenges. Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, I find solace in the cozy corners of my living room or the rooftop garden, nurturing my beloved collection of plants and cherishing the serenity that surrounds me.