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Hobbies and interests
Art
Baking
Cooking
Environmental Science and Sustainability
Science
History
Anthropology
Sports
Softball
Volleyball
Roller Skating
Board Games And Puzzles
Videography
Cinematography
Photography and Photo Editing
Gardening
Spending Time With Friends and Family
Reading
Action
Adventure
Art
Environment
Anthropology
Fantasy
Folklore
Historical
History
Juvenile
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism
Novels
Mystery
Realistic Fiction
Science Fiction
Young Adult
I read books multiple times per week
Reina Kikuchi
1,405
Bold Points17x
Nominee2x
Finalist![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/img0091d7c3c7bce88f42a1bf6c77f817cbc8f2.webp)
Reina Kikuchi
1,405
Bold Points17x
Nominee2x
FinalistBio
Hi, my name is Reina Kikuchi. currently go to Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, and am going to Western Washington University next school year to study environmental science.
Other than environmental science I love doing service projects, and have been an active member of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, a service and leadership organization, for 7 years. I also volunteer at my local fish hatchery, Columbia Springs in my spare time. In school I was a member of a club called public art coalition, where I worked on projects such as painting murals, and theater sets for my school.
I have had the opportunity to have an internship with Northwest Youth Corps on one of their community crews. during this experience I did conservation work around the Portland area.
I hope to have a career in environmental and marine sciences. My goal is to work on a research boat, and use my education to make the world a better place!
Education
Vancouver School Of Arts And Academics
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Majors of interest:
- Natural Sciences
- Marine Sciences
- Geography and Environmental Studies
- Earth Systems Science
Career
Dream career field:
Environmental Services
Dream career goals:
Working in a marine science career
community crew member
Northwest Youth Corps2023 – 2023
Sports
Softball
Club2023 – 20241 year
Arts
Public art coalition
Visual Artsmural, tee-shirt design and production2021 – Present
Public services
Volunteering
Columbia Springs fish hatchery — volunteer2023 – PresentVolunteering
Rainbow Girls — I am a Grand Officer (this means I hold one of the 8 state wide positions in my state's jurisdiction)2016 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Entrepreneurship
Zachary Scheppat Memorial Science Scholarship
I want to spread a legacy of joy through a career in Environmental Science. Growing up in Washington means constantly being surrounded by nature. There has never been a moment where I couldn’t see the mountains, or evergreen trees the state is known for. Because of this I grew to love every aspect of the natural world.
In school I would learn about animals going extinct, on the news I would see wildfires, and how they had burned down homes. I saw trash on roads, and felt each summer getting warmer. Each time I noticed how environmental issues were changing the world around me, it made me realize how much sadness environmental problems brought. It made me want to help shape a world where people weren’t filled with hopelessness because of these issues.
So far, I have been able to spread joy in my community by being involved in beach clean-ups, and tree plantings around my town. Being a part of service projects has been an integral part of my life since I was eleven. It has helped to shape me into a service-oriented person, and see the true value of giving my time to help others. I also volunteer at a local fish hatchery, where I cut down the blackberries, and other invasive species, and clean up trash in the area. When I volunteer in my town I feel I am making a difference in my community. I am able to give back to the place I love and give people a bit of hope that not every inch of our world is being threatened by the issues of climate change.
Last summer I also had the opportunity to have an internship with Northwest Youth Corps. I was able to make positive changes in parks, and natural areas around Portland. During this internship I did conservation work such as pulling invasive plants, and planting native species in their place. Doing this internship gave me insight into what a career in Environmental Science would be like. I was able to see how cleaning up an area, or planting and harvesting food could make someone else feel a bit happier. But more importantly I was able to see how doing conservation work was able to make the earth happier and healthier. I saw how removing invasive species can make a space feel cleaner, and how it gives a chance for native plants to grow.
I am also interested in science communication and using communication as a form of education. My high school does senior projects, and for mine I made a magazine highlighting environmentalism in my community. I wanted to focus my magazine on environmentalism, because I know how much media there already is on problems, but not a lot on solutions. During this project I got to learn from professionals in the science field, and interview them. I was able to see how they teach others about our world, and how they can make a difference. My goal in creating this magazine was to make something that could educate others in my town on ways people are making the world a better place, and how they themselves can also have a positive impact in the world. I even got to put my magazine in my school library so my peers can learn more about their community, and how to make a difference.
In summary, spreading hope, and joy is essential towards change. I want to have a career in Environmental Science to show people how even though environmental issues are impacting our communities, there is still hope all around us.
Carol S. Comeau Environmental Scholarship
I love the way the ever-expansive trees sway in the wind, the way I can see Mt. Rainer close by on a sunny day, or how I can find nature all around me. I am lucky to call this state home, and want to do all I can to protect my home here from environmental issues that could affect it greatly.
Over the years I have participated in multiple volunteer events such as tree plantings and beach clean-ups to help make my community in Washington a safer and happier place. I have also volunteered at Columbia Springs, a local fish hatchery, where I clear the trails in the area of invasive species. I am especially proud of the work I have done this last summer with Northwest Youth Corps. With this opportunity I had the chance to get to understand what a job in environmental science might be like. I was able to meet college students studying in the environmental science field, learn conservation knowledge, and work on projects to clean up areas in the area. I helped clear areas of invasive species, plant native plants, and helping with harvesting and planting on a local farm called Kindness Farm. This was a very valuable experience for me as it gave me a perspective on the hard work I would have to do as an environmental scientist. Even though it was very hard to keep working every day, I still did, and that showed me that environmental science truly is my passion.
Recently I am also in the process of creating a magazine centered around environmentalism in my community in Vancouver Washington. This magazine is one of my best achievements so far. I have been able to combine my interests in visual art, design, communication, and environmental science to create a resource that anyone can use to learn more about our community, and get involved in environmental science. So far I have been able to interview people at my local community college, working at a native plant center. I hope this magazine will be able to inspire others, and help make my community here a better place.
These experiences and activities have inspired me to make a difference in my community, through my pursuit of environmental science. I want to help people by teaching them about the environmental issues impacting us, and showing them how beautiful our natural world truly is.
Michael Rudometkin Memorial Scholarship
It was 80 degrees outside, I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, the most uncomfortable shoes, and gloves that stuck to my skin. It was my first job. For five weeks I would be weeding, hauling, shoveling, pulling and cutting back plants. It was grueling work.
For six hours, I stayed there pulling ivy and cutting back blackberries. It's safe to say this wasn't exactly my idea of fun. I pulled and cut those invasive species for a week. By the first day, my hands had become blistered even through the gloves I had used, my legs became tired of crouching and climbing, and my back and arms ached from being stuck in the same position. By that first week, I had wanted to quit. I could have gotten a better job, one with more money, and less labor. There wasn't any benefit for me. What would I get out of working every day for weeks in the July heat?
I was crouched down in the same long-sleeved shirt, this time it was 90 degrees, on farm fields. The sun beamed straight at my back. Again the whole day, I weeded, I planted, I picked, but the one thing I hadn't done was quit. It was the last week of my summer job. For five weeks, I had pushed through and reminded myself why I was there to begin with.
While I pulled out ivy, I thought of the people I'd be helping, how I would be making safer trails for them to walk on, and how there would be no more ivy curling down the paths. As I worked in those farm fields, under harsh rays, I thought of the food that would be going to others, I thought of how I would be contributing to their lives, through the food I had just planted and picked. I realized my passion for the environment, that I wanted to do my part, I wanted to do something for my community. I had not done something amazingly selfless, such as saving a life, but I had done something. Through the invasive species I have cut and pulled from the earth, I have made a physical impact on my community.
I have come to a deeper understanding of why I so desperately want to make the world better, why I want to be selfless and help those in my community. I have always been invested in the environment, but seeing the change, however small, I was able to make through my hard work and dedication, made me realize how big my passion for helping the environment, and helping my community truly is.