As a gay and BIPOC student studying Marine Biology and Ecology at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Sciences (RSMAES), I believe I have the qualifications for this scholarship. I am deeply invested in the health of our marine ecosystems, especially coastal ecosystems due to the significance they serve as nursery grounds for important species, unique and rich biodiversity, natural protection from storms, and other key factors. Therefore, the conservation and restoration of these rapidly declining coastal ecosystems are highly important to me. I have always had a strong passion for marine biology since I was young, and studying marine biology was one of my biggest dreams. Therefore, the University of Miami, with its great marine science programs was my top choice. As soon as I got into the university and began my studies, I became even more dedicated to the health of the marine ecosystem. And with university studies came more opportunities to help conserve our oceans. That is why I got involved in research at the RSMAES Benthic Ecology and Coral Restoration lab which focuses on conserving Florida’s coastal ecosystems, especially coral reefs. Here, I assist in the husbandry of many of Florida’s threatened coral species to support their populations by cultivating and out-planting them to damaged reefs. I also assist in studies to find how different levels of light and nutrients can help corals grow in-lab. This would help restore our threatened reefs and benefit coastal communities, which are some of my main focuses of coastal ecosystem conservation. Furthermore, as one of the few gay and biracial students in my marine biology program, I want to serve as a role model for fellow minority students and show that we all belong in this field despite its historical lack of diversity. I have pursued this goal by being elected and joining multiple executive boards of marine science student organizations, including the Marine & Atmospheric Honor Society, ECO Agency, and Aquarium Club. Here, I have made these organizations all more inclusive spaces for fellow queer students while also supporting aquatic and environmental health initiatives to support my passion for ocean health. This scholarship would be very helpful in pursuing my goals because it would help alleviate the financial burden of attending a private university and relieve some stress from future student loans and other possible scholarship applications. It would also prove my dedication to protecting the oceans and serving as a queer student leader. In the future, I want to continue my involvement and impact through a research career such as conservation and restoration work. I want to protect these vital coastal ecosystems for the benefit of our oceans, the natural world, and humanity as a whole.

As a marine biology and ecosystem science student, I am deeply invested in the health of our marine ecosystems, especially coastal ecosystems due to the significance they serve as nursery grounds for important species, unique and rich biodiversity, natural protection from storms, and other key factors. Therefore, the conservation and restoration of these rapidly declining coastal ecosystems are highly important to me, which closely aligns with the mission of this scholarship. That is why I got involved in research at the RSMAES Benthic Ecology and Coral Restoration lab which focuses on conserving Florida’s coastal ecosystems, especially coral reefs. Here, I assist in the husbandry of many of Florida’s threatened coral species to support their populations by cultivating and out-planting them to damaged reefs. I am also helping conduct studies with fellow students to explore the effects of amino acids and different light levels on coral growth. If the results are promising, this could open up a way to grow corals more quickly, allowing populations and reefs to recover more efficiently. This would help restore our threatened reefs and benefit coastal communities, which are some of my main focuses of coastal ecosystem conservation. In the future, I want to continue my involvement and impact through a research career to protect coastal ecosystems for the benefit of our oceans, the natural world, and humanity. Coastal ecosystems are some of the most threatened in the world due to human impacts, especially coastal development and climate change. Some ways I would like to move forward with protecting these areas on the local level would be by creating more protected areas along coastlines, especially areas rich in biodiversity, like mangroves and reefs, which are also important for coastal communities. I would also be interested in rewilding previously developed areas to reintroduce biodiversity and monitoring species richness in these areas. This would allow for the restoration of historical coastal ecosystems and not just the protection of the few healthy ones remaining. From here, rewilding projects, if successful at a local level, could be expanded nationwide, so we can protect our marine ecosystems from coast to coast. This would be extremely beneficial to not just coastal ecosystems, but the ocean as a whole, since coastal areas are the most biodiverse locations in the oceans due to coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and many other vital biomes. They are key in supporting the health and longevity of marine environments, and I want to be apart of conserving and restoring them for years to come.