College Station, Texas — Four undergraduate interns have been accepted into the Texas Sea Grant – Community Engaged Internship (TXSG-CEI) Program for summer 2024. Maria Paula Islas, Reagan Teehan, Harvey Houltby and Mayrena Lugo are the undergraduate students that have been selected to participate in the CEI program.
The Texas Sea Grant-Community Engaged Internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students from underserved and/or underrepresented or indigenous communities, to gain experience and mentorship in an area of interest specific to each student. This internship is part of a national Sea Grant-wide effort to broaden participation in marine and coastal professions to the next generation of scientists and decision-makers.
Maria Paula Islas is from San Antonio, Texas and is currently attending Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMUCC). Maria Paula is studying Environmental Science. Maria Paula will be working with Texas Sea Grant’s Extension Fisheries Program Manager, Alexis Sabine, on marine debris prevention in the recreational fisheries sector in the Corpus Christi area. “I look forward to working with the Texas Sea Grant program and moving towards a community that takes part in protecting our coastal environment,” she commented.
Reagan Teehan is from Port Lavaca, Texas and is currently attending Texas A&M University – College Station. Her area of study is Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management. Reagan will be working with Texas Sea Grant’s Calhoun County Coastal and Marine Resource Extension Agent, RJ Shelly, providing assistance with Environmental Education for the YMCA Summer Camp Program. During the course of this internship, she will have other opportunities to assist in other kinds of coastal and marine research and testing, as well as some wildlife and rangeland management activities. When asked about what she hoped to get out of the internship Reagan said, “Throughout the course of this summer, I hope to deepen my knowledge and understanding of coastal resources, wildlife and rangeland management practices, and teach the upcoming generation the importance of our environment and maintaining it.”
Harvey Houltby is from Lincolnshire, England and is attending Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. Harvey is studying Biology and Atmospheric Science, as well as pursuing a minor in mathematics. Working with Texas Sea Grant’s Aransas County Extension Agent of Coastal Marine Resources, Pat Cruz, and Sara Carney, Vice President of Public Relations of the Je’Sani Smith Foundation, he will be providing assistance with community engagement on beach safety and rip current awareness based out of Houston, Texas. “I am most looking forward to learning more about rip currents and how people can survive them,” said Harvey.
Mayrena Lugo is from Laredo, Texas and is currently in attendance at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. Mayrena is studying Environmental Science with a concentration in Marine Biology, with a minor in Chemistry. Like Harvey, she will be working with Sara Carney and Pat Cruz, on community engagement on beach safety and rip current awareness and networking with organizations in Corpus Christi through the Je’Sani Smith Foundation. Mayrena stated that, “I hope to gain experience from this internship that will better help me decide on what to do next in my career.”
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Texas Sea Grant is a unique partnership that unites the resources of the federal government, the State of Texas and universities across the state to create knowledge, tools, products and services that benefit the economy, the environment and the citizens of Texas. It is administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is one of 34 university-based Sea Grant Programs around the country. Texas Sea Grant is a non-academic research center at Texas A&M University. The program’s mission is to improve the understanding, wise use and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources.