Here is a little background on our incredible past interns. We wish them the best of luck as they finish college and pursue their careers. We believe that they will take sustainability practices into their careers regardless of their occupation.
Sarah Ko served as an intern researcher on a UNR Community Based Research Project for Envirolution in the fall of 2018. Sarah Ko is from Las Vegas, Nevada. She is entering her third year as a student at the University of Nevada, Reno. Sarah is majoring in environmental sciences with an emphasis in soil biogeochemistry, as well as minoring in geotechnology. In the future, Sarah wants to use GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to research more about the environment and how we, as humans, can improve for the future! Sarah’s hobbies include drawing and reading.
Kaitlyn Duvall is currently a student at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is majoring in Environmental Science and dual minoring in Eco-hydrology and Philosophy. Kaitlyn enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, and traveling. As an active member of the Reno Pops Orchestra, she plays cello in several concerts throughout the year. Kaitlyn will be working as a researcher on a Community Based Research Project for Envirolution.
Gabriel (Gabe) Bermeo was a high school senior at the G.A.T.E. Institute at Procter Hug High School. Prior to joining Envirolution, he completed a 60 hour internship in I.T. at City Hall and volunteered for the National Honor Society Baking program. He has completed and passed 6 AP tests and has a weighted GPA over 4.0. He was voted “Most Distinguished Junior” in the 2016-2017 school year and has a rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the J.R.O.T.C. Gabe will be assisting Envirolution with our 2018 Sustainability Tour held in March. He will help to promote the tour at Washoe County Schools and assist during the tour week.
Nathan Bergrin was a high school senior at The Davidson Academy of Nevada. He is a senior member of their Speech and Debate and International Public Policy Forum teams and has been involved in several research projects with the University of Nevada, Reno. He attended Envirolution’s Three Spheres Leadership Academy in 8th grade and is now an intern in order to give back. In his free time, Nathan enjoys drawing and music composition, and intends to pursue architecture and design in college.
Caitlin Lynch is a senior at University of Nevada, Reno studying Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, graduating in May 2018. She is a member of the UNR Student Ambassadors who are honors students that volunteer 5-7 hours a month to help prospective students make an informed decision on their college choice. Caitlin made numerous several social media posts about environmental topics on Envirolution’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds. She completed an analysis on the effectiveness of Envirolution’s social media campaign for 2017.
Olivia Fox worked with Envirolution as our Curriculum and Special Projects Intern. She helped with special event including Earth Day and the Project ReCharge end-of-year event and on Project ReCharge projects. Olivia is a junior at the University of Nevada, Reno (graduating in 2019) studying Environmental Science. She plans on working in the field of Hydrology when she completes her undergraduate studies and then wants to get a Masters degree. Olivia enjoys yoga and hiking around the Lake Tahoe area.
Michelle Werdann is a freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is majoring in Neuroscience, with a minor in Journalism. She is originally from Reno and has been a lover of the outdoors her entire life. Michelle is excited to not only engage in the sustainability conversation, but also to spread awareness and is helped Envirolution with social media.
Freshman Connor Bates is studying Biochemistry at UNR. Connor went to high school at Fort Frances in Northwestern Ontario.
His hobbies include reading, swimming, and playing music. Connor helped Envirolution with a variety of projects.
Phuc (Eric) Duong is a Freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno. He was an intern for the 2016 Sustainability Tour.
As a student from Reed High and as part of the Project ReCharge program, Eric recognized the amount of energy being used at Reed, specifically the refrigerators used for breakfast/lunch storage in the cafeteria. He discovered that the kitchen’s power usage totaled to about 60% of the school’s total energy usage. Eric collected data on how much energy the current refrigerators used, newer models and their impacts resulting in: 17.6% energy usage reduction and saves the school $315.36 annually.
Eric also volunteered with Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation to create a study on the use of parks and correlations to health. Eric was also involved with Reed High School’s Robotic club. He earned a Silver Medal in Mobile Robotics -Energy Tech at the 2017 Skills Nevada State Conference.
Eric received a Golden Pinecone Sustainability Award in 2017 in the Youth Leadership category for his volunteer work in the sustainability community.
University of Nevada Reno Engineering student, Kellen Mitchell spent over 60 volunteer hours designing, building and fine tuning demonstration boards that were used for two new Project ReCharge Energy Bikes.
Elizabeth Everest was Envirolution’s Volunteer Social Media and Outreach Coordinator in 2015
Elizabeth was born and raised in Carson City, Nevada. After spending a year abroad in Thailand, she was inspired to return back to her community and start making a difference. Elizabeth is currently enrolled at the University of Nevada and is working towards achieving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. Long term, she would like to study Marine Science and Conservation, but currently she excited to be living in Reno and working with organizations like Envirolution to promote sustainability in the local area.