(Lake Worth, FL – July
11, 2011)
John Arthur Marshall,
Chairman of the Board of the
Arthur R. Marshall
Foundation & Florida Environmental Institute, Inc.,
which champions the restoration and preservation of the
greater Everglades ecosystem, today announced that the
nonprofit organization’s four new
Everglades Interns
are busy calculating the
economic impact of this summer’s ongoing drought.
“We believe that the
drought’s so-called ‘sticker shock’ will convince
citizens to support implementation of the Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan,” said Marshall.
“Certainly, implementing CERP will not only be cheaper
than putting up with future droughts, it will help in
reducing the frequency, duration and extent of
additional droughts over the next 40 years.”
The Marshall Foundation’s
2011 Everglades Interns are:
+ Vanessa Aparicio
recently graduated from Stetson University with a
bachelors of science in biology and environmental
science. She grew up in Fort Lauderdale where she
fell in love with South Florida’s freshwater
ecosystems, especially wetlands. After earning a
Masters degree, Ms. Aparicio intends to pursue a
career in wildlife and conservation biology with an
interest in ecosystem management.
+ David Diaz
was born in Bogota, Colombia, but was raised in
Florida. A recent graduate of the University of
Florida with a Bachelors degree in Environmental
Science and a minor in International Studies in
Agriculture and Life Sciences, he studied for six
months in southern Brazil, where his exposure to the
Atlantic rainforest sparked his interest in
ecology. Mr. Diaz is determined to pursue a career
in tropical ecology or environmental management.
+ Judy Hartshorn
graduated from the University of Miami in May 2011
with a major in marine affairs and minors in biology
and communication studies. Next year she will be
attending the University of Miami to get a Master’s
degree in marine affairs, and wants to work with
coastal communities in developing countries.
+ Robert Hill
was born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL, and is in
his final semester at Florida Gulf Coast University,
where he is majoring in environmental studies with a
minor in biology. After completing the
environmental studies graduate/Master’s program, his
career goal is to work in habitat restoration,
wildlife management or natural resource management.
The Marshall Foundation’s
annual Summer Intern program started in late-May and
runs through a special Graduation Luncheon, which will
be held on August 4 at the West Palm Beach headquarters
of the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin
Counties. The public is invited to attend the
Graduation Luncheon. Tickets are $50 per person and are
available at
561.233.9004
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 561.233.9004 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
The Marshall Foundation’s
intensive, 11-week internship is for undergraduate and
graduate students with top grades in the environmental
sciences. The program is focused on the Florida
Everglades and the multi-billion dollar plan to preserve
and restore this vital ecosystem. Mentored by top-level
professionals and decision-makers, interns are involved
in hands-on projects and educational activities.
“The purpose of this
life-changing, career-enhancing summer program is to
train the next generation of environmental leaders,”
added Marshall. “Our objective is to create
knowledgeable professionals who can address issues like
the Everglades from a multitude of viewpoints. I’m
pleased to say that many of our graduates have gone on
to achieve impressive things in the ecological
sciences.”
About the Marshall
Foundation’s Summer Intern Program:
Each year, several
high-achieving, college-aged students participate in the
Foundation’s award-winning summer internship program.
The program is designed for upper-level undergraduate
and graduate students interested in careers in the
environmental sciences. Participants explore the
ecology, geology, history and hydrology of the unique
Florida Everglades, conduct fieldwork at the Arthur R.
Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton
Beach, and meet with key professionals and
decision-makers involved in the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan.
About the Arthur R.
Marshall Foundation:
Based in Palm Beach
County, the Marshall Foundation champions the
restoration and preservation of the greater Everglades
ecosystem through science-based education and outreach
programs. Annually, more than 15,000 elementary and
high school students in Palm Beach County actively participate in
the Marshall
Foundation's various education programs.
Founded in 1998, the
nonprofit organization has in recent years awarded more
than $400,000 in scholarships and internships, planted
nearly 100,000 native Florida trees in wetland
areas, and involved more than 5,000 volunteers in
hands-on restoration projects.
For reservations for the
Aug 4 Luncheon or more information about the Marshall
Foundation, please call
561.233.9004
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 561.233.9004 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
or visit
www.artmarshall.com.