Alumni
Keeping in touch with our Global Ecology graduates is very importance to us. If you have graduated from the Global Ecology Program and would like to have your testimony added to the alumni page please email Ms. Bailey at:
We would love to hear from you.
Please use the following format:
Name
Global Ecology Graduating Class
College Major
What are you doing now?
Included below are testimonials from students and parents who have attended our program. You don't have to take our word for the opportunities this program can offer you. Read on to see where the Global program can take you!
Class of 1996
- Aaron Lando - GESP Class of 1996, Part Owner/Manager of Rainbow Aquatics, Inc
- Rich Wilkinson - Attending Asbury Theologic Seminar
Class of 1999
- Jenny Maier, University of Maryland, College Park (B.S. Environmental Economics), Golden Gate University School of Law (J.D. Environmental Law). Currently working as an environmental non-profit attorney in Oakland, CA.
- Gordon Phillips - GESP Class of 1999, Owner/Operator of Green Fish Aquatics in Silver Spring
- Dan Trusilo - GESP Class of 1999, United States Military Academy at West Point Major - International Relations and Systems Engineering
Class of 2000
- Evan Keto - GESP Class of 2000, BS from University of Maryland, Ms in Forestry from NCSU (2010), working as the Urban Forester for the Town of Wake Forest, North Carolina.
- Jessica Kratchman - GESP Class of 2000, BS in Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland College Park in 2004. MS in Fire Protection Engineering Class of 2006. Research Engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in the Building and Fire Research Lab (BFRL). Update 10/31/2013: Jessica is now working on a Phd In Public Health. Enjoy reading about her at the following link:
https://sphhs.gwu.edu/content/engineer-turns-public-health
- Jennifer (Cooper) Newcomer - GESP Class of 2000, graduated from Elon University in 2004 with a BA in Elementary and Special Education, currently work for Montgomery County Public Schools teaching 3rd grade
Class of 2001
- Kim Becraft - GESP Class of 2001, University of Mary Washington, Major Biology and Psychology
- Tabitha Clem - GESP Class of 2001, St. Mary's College of Maryland Class of 2005 UC Berkeley (current) Major - Chemistry, magna cum laude, Scholars Program, Phi Beta Kappa
- Tara Flynn - GESP Class of 2001, graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore County with a Major in Biology and a Minor in Writing, currently attending Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (2009)
Class of 2003
- David Sosnowski - GESP Class of 2003, Major: Civil Engineering
Class of 2004
- Caroline Davis - GESP Class of 2004, Wake Forest
- Aaron Gilbert - GESP Class of 2004
- Robin Miller - GESP Class of 2004, The George Washington University Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry
- Matthew Page - GESP Class of 2004, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- Megan Turner- GESP Class of 2004, Major: Biology/Pre-med
- Robbie Vocke - GESP Class of 2004, University of MD Major: Engineering
Class of 2005
- Mary Bernardo - Parent of Joey Bernardo GESP Class of 2005
- Rachel Carr - GESP 2005, University of Virginia (2009) Major – Biology
- Reuben Goetzl - GESP 2005, Duke University (2009)
- Esi Waters - GESP 2005, Duke University (2009)
Class of 2006
- Brandon Carroll - GESP 2006, Virginia Tech, Major Financial Planning
Class of 2007
- Brady Cunningham - University of Maryland '11, Environmental Science and Policy, University of South Carolina with a PhD in Marine Science '15
- Erica Neville - University of Wyoming, Elementary Education and Environmental Education
- Zachary Russ- GESP 2007, graduated summa cum laude from UMD with a double major in bioengineering and math
Class of 2008
- Marshall Betz - GESP 2008, Duke University (2009)
- Wenceslao Shaw-Cortez - GESP 2008, University of Bolder Colerado
- Joanna Taylor - GESP 2008, West Virginia University, Major in Wildlife and Fisheries Resource with a Minor in Conservation Ecology
Class of 2010
- Sheenali Naik- GESP 2010, University of Maryland, Environmental Science and Policy
- Kevin Reig- GESP 2010, St. Mary’s College of Maryland Class of 2014, Majored in Political Science
Current Work- United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Testimonials
Kim Becraft - GESP Class of 2001, University of Mary Washington, Major Biology and Psychology
I first and foremost want to thank you and all the Global teachers for your hard work and dedication to the GESP program. The effects of the GESP program on me have been long-lasting and life-shaping. My original concern and interest in conservation and the environment was cultivated within the walls of PHS.
I went on in college to major in Biology and Psychology at the University of Mary Washington. My senior year, I had an internship with the Marine Animal Rescue Program at the Baltimore Aquarium. I worked one on one with injured animals rescued form all along the east coast as well as a great deal of public education on ocean health. Working with children and seeing their excitement about the environment made me all the more thankful of my early experiences with Global.
I have since graduated and pursued my dream of working in conservation. I now live in DC and work for the Conservation Fund, an environmental non-profit. I hope one day to continue my education, but I am enjoying learning about conservation from all angles.
Marshall Betz - GESP Class of 2008, St. Mary's University
The last three weeks I spent at college have been great. My science classes have been going smoothly and the professors speak very highly of students that have graduated from Poolesville in past years. I have never been as proud to be a Global Student as I was in my Principle of Biology for Majors Lab Class. This morning I was given a chance to shine in front of my peers in a real lab environment. We were testing the cytoplasm flow rate in Nitella (Aquatic plants) and practicing our microscope skills. The lab was projected to take three and a half hours to complete with extra work that was to be done for homework. Not only did I finish the assignment in a record one hour and fifteen minutes, but I also finished the hour long homework assignment in fifteen minutes. The professor and my fellow students were astounded that I had so much valuable lab experience regarding microscopy and experimental design.
As I was packing up to leave class (a good two hours early) other students were approaching me about teaching them how to properly view subjects in the microscope, take good empirical data, and analyze the observations they had made of their specimens. Not only had I become and impromptu student aid, but I also became the example for the class. My professor asked if he could copy down a few of my data points, use my slide specimen as an example on proper mounting and specimen observation technique, and have other students look into my microscope so that they could see what it was like to use it correctly. This was possibly my proudest moment in college so far (which is saying quite a lot considering I won a dance contest the week before).
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my global teachers, some of which I never had the chance to thank formally, for making it possible for me to thrive, learn, and grow in a real world environment. Thank you so much for all your support and I will never forget how you helped a diamond in the rough become a gleaming example of academic prowess.
The four years I spent in GESP have clearly been of great magnitude and if have every expectation that this will not be the last time my hard work as a global student will allow me to sent myself apart from the crowd.
Thank you so much for being so fantastic!
Mary Bernardo - Parent of Joey Bernardo, GESP Class of 2005
Thank you for the help, inspiration and confidence GESP has given Joey over the past four years. Twice this year, after Canaan Valley Trip;and the recent Fox Island trip, he kept reiterating how much those trips meant to him as far as his knowledge of the environment, the beauty of the surroundings and the comradery of the participants. He said, "You can't believe how much these trips have bonded us together. It's so awesome!" He had nothing but praise for the field studies. It's been a wonderful opportunity to enrich his life, for life. I hope that the program continues to touch others similarly. I'm in debt to GESP for the effect it has had on my son.
Ever wonder what impact GESP has on its community? See what all the alumni are doing to help the environment. Alumni Information coming soon!
Brandon Carroll, GESP Class of 2006
I graduated from Poolesville High School in 2006, and I am graduating from Virginia Tech in December 2010 with a degree in Financial Planning. I was a member of the Global Ecology Magnet Program, and I consider it to be one of the best experiences of my life. I cannot thank the staff and teachers enough for the life lessons they taught me and the work ethic they instilled in me. In college, I became the Student Body President, where I represented the voices of over 23,000 students. In this position, I lobbied on the local, state, and national level on behalf of the undergraduate students at Virginia Tech. Also, I started a non-profit with some friends, called Actively Caring for People, where we spread intentional acts of kindness worldwide. We have bullying prevention programs in 12 schools, and we are spreading rapidly. Because of my experiences with the Global Ecology Studies Program, I truly understand the impact one can have on the world.
Rachel Carr - GESP 2005, University of Virginia (2009) Major – Biology
Global Ecology means more to me every year: it was fun as a new ninth grader, even better as a sophomore and junior and senior year of GESP was one of the best experiences of my life. The classes and hands-on lessons are incredible and the trips I took – from the Chesapeake Bay to Canaan Valley, WV all the way to the Grand Tetons – immersed me completely in.. well, our fascinating environment! But the best part of Global is what emerged from it after I graduated: the soul deep appreciation and love I have for the natural world. That will remain with me all my life.
Tabitha Clem - GESP Class of 2001, St. Mary's College of Maryland Class of 2005 UC Berkeley (current) Major - Chemistry, magna cum laude, Scholars Program, Phi Beta Kappa
The main benefit I got out of GESP was being surrounded by teachers who had high expectations for me both in terms of academics and maturity. Managing to keep up with other classes while away on field trips was a challenge, but was ultimately beneficial to me. GESP and AP classes made me develop a study ethic so that by college I was able to learn and study independently. Being in GESP helped me immensely, probably in ways I don't even realize. My first semester of college, all my professors asked where I had gone to high school. I was proud to tell them I was part of the Global Ecology Studies Program at Poolesville High School.
Caroline Davis - GESP Class of 2004, Wake Forest
Global was a truly enriching experience. The personal teacher/student relationships, intellectual and educational field trips and eye opening classes all added to my memorable time in the Global program. Each lesson and field trip gave me different perspective of the environment and politics and the effects that each has on the other. I remember times when I did not allow myself to learn and take all of the opportunities that GESP had to offer because I was afraid to miss a certain class. Those times I regret. The times I allowed myself to become completely immersed in the global experience were by far my most favorite.
Tara Flynn - GESP Class of 2001, graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore County with a Major in Biology and a Minor in writing, currently attending Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (2009)
It has been almost eight years since I graduated from Poolesville, and I still feel the effects that GESP has on my daily work. First and foremost, Global gave me confidence; I still remember with great fondness many of the teachers that helped encourage me to follow my interests.
GESP helped to nurture my love of science, and stood me in good stead throughout my undergraduate career. The foundation laid in high school helped carry me through my college science classes. The interdisciplinary approach also gave me a strong foundation in writing, which is not to be underestimated in the scientific world! Even now, months from graduating veterinary school, I am amazed at how many of the intelligent people around me would benefit from being able to better convey their ideas.
What I most treasure about my high school experience with GESP, however, is the undying respect and appreciation for the environment that it fostered in me. There is no substitute for being outdoors and observing the world around you in order to build the sort of environmental consciousness that is the first step to solving the ecological challenges that face the planet today. Since graduating, I have tried to engage in activities such as kayaking, backpacking, and wildlife rehabilitation that remind me of the greater world around me.
I hope to one day use my DVM degree in the field of conservation medicine, applying my knowledge and skills working to solve global disease problems and preserve endangered species and ecosystems. None of this would have been possible without the foundation that was laid when I was in GESP.
Aaron Gilbert - GESP Class of 2004
Global Ecology has given me a perspective that has made me a more complete all-around student. With the knowledge I have gained over the course of the four years in that program, I am able to contribute in many discussions a view that is often overlooked. In addition, I have taken two courses related to my Global Ecology education, a History course on the environmental history of the world from 1500 to the present and a Writing Course on ethical dilemmas in conservation. Although these were not required courses for gaining a degree in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering, these electives certainly will shape my outcome as a college graduate. I have also used ArcView over the summer as an intern taking GIS data related to flood damage and have mapped out this data within the region of southern West Virginia. It is more than safe to say that Global Ecology was an immensely valuable contribution to my further education.
Reuben Goetzl - GESP 2005, Duke University (2009)
While I was in high school, I basically thought of Global as a free ticket to get out of class. Now, as I look back on my experiences at Poolesville, I see it as so much more. I now see how much it prepared me for college, and how the classes at Duke surprisingly do not seem that hard. I see how good the teachers are, and how they made every class interesting - yes, even physics. Most of all though, I see how the relationships I formed with my fellow students and teachers has made me the person I am today.
Evan Keto - GESP Class of 2000, BS from University of Maryland, College Park General Scientist, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
I'm helping to create environmental impact reports as part of the relicensing process for nuclear power plants across the country. This involves analyzing effects on endangered species, air and water quality, ecosystem stability, historic resources, and low-income and minority populations, among other things. My branch works with other federal agencies, power plant owners, non-profit organizations, and local residents to ensure that nuclear power plants are operating cleanly and safely.What GESP means to me:The GESP program taught me more than science,history, and English; I also learned valuable life lessons in the importance of ethics, initiative, and knowledge. The Global Program gave me the opportunity to take air quality measurements in the mountains of West Virginia, to see the sun rise over the Chesapeake, and to work on community service and research projects throughout the local area. These events helped me to realize that learning about things isn't enough; you've got to roll up your sleeves and put that knowledge to use. Combined with an strong and varied curriculum and an emphasis on teamwork, this message helps to turn students into scholars, residents into citizens, and followers into leaders.
Jessica Kratchman - GESP Class of 2000, BS in Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland College Park in 2004. MS in Fire Protection Engineering Class of 2006. Research Engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in the Building and Fire Research Lab (BFRL)
As a graduate of GESP I have had the opportunity to have a unique educational experience that has helped me not only in college but in my professional career. I think that people in all professions should consider the impact that they have on the environment. Global was an exciting experience, that prepared me for college and my career, and some of my best friends are still by buddies from GESP!
Aaron Lando - GESP Class of 1996, Florida Gulf Coast University - BA Environmental Studies 2006, University of South Florida - MS Marine Science
I am currently part owner and general manager of Rainbow Aquatics, Inc. in Fort Myers, FL. We breed African cichlids for the tropical aquarium fish trade. I have also worked as a Fisheries Biologist for the State of Florida conducting field research in the Charlotte Harbor Estuary and research in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) stock enhancement aquaculture in the Tampa Bay Estuary. I am also continuing my education in Marine Science at USF in St. Petersburg, FL
Robin Miller - GESP Class of 2004, The George Washington University Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry
The Global Ecology Studies Program definitely gave me an advantage in college. After I graduated in 2004, I was thoroughly prepared for all of my college level science classes. The field trips, labs and activities all influenced my decision to study biology and how it relates to the environment. Instead of reading about developments in science, I was able to experience them first hand, which has made all the difference.
Sheenali Naik, GEH Class of 2010, Unversity of Maryland, Environmental Studies and Policy
Hope all is going well in the global program and with apes class. I'm currently at UMD studying Environmental Science and Policy and I have taken Environmental Science 101 and I am currently in Environmental Policy 102. I thought it would be interesting to let you know that my environmental science class used the same exact book we used in apes last year, except for a new edition. The content was almost all the same and I did not have to read the book, I simply used my notes from last year. This class also did not even go half as in-depth as we did last year so I was always at a great advantage. I am now in environmental policy and we are reading two books where readings from last year are referred to constantly. The Tragedy of Commons, Sand County Almanac, and IPCC reports are mentioned and described, but it greatly helped that I already had background knowledge on them. I’ve also been able to relate to some issue we are studying from out trip to the Bahamas last summer, the mangroves are often a confusing concept to some but hands on experience with the reefs has helped me understand the delicacy of this habitat. We've also had to write papers about topics that interested us and my senior paper was a great help
Erica Neville, GEH Class of 2007, Unversity of Wyoming, Elementary Education and Environmental Education
Hello, my favorite teachers!
I wanted to shoot you an email to update you on some exciting news! Two years ago, I graduated from the University of Wyoming with a major in Elementary Ed and a concentration in Environmental Education. Last year, I began my career as a third grade teacher at Lincoln Heights Elementary School in Fuquay-Varina. I had an amazingly tough but rewarding year with my kids. At the end of last year, we applied to become a STEM school with the concentration of Environmental Science. We were granted the title of a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) school with a specialty area of Environmental science. (Of course the inner global geek in me was ecstatic!) At the beginning of the year, I asked my principal to interview for the position as a STEM coordinator. Long story short, after jumping through a few hoops, I have officially been named as the STEM coordinator. I am now going to work with teachers to integrate technology and improve science instruction in our school. I will be running professional development for STEM and modeling environmental science lessons. I will also work with teachers to implement a school-wide Environmental initiative.
I am so excited to be able to start my "dream job" so early in my career but I owe it all to all of you. If it wasn't for your example as educators and for sharing your love for teaching and the environment with me, I wouldn't be where I am today. I am eternally grateful for your example and for all the hard work and dedication that you put towards being teachers. I know now how
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt
Jennifer (Cooper) Newcomer - GESP Class of 2000
This is Jennifer Newcomer....formely Jennifer Cooper, class of 2000. I graduated from Elon University in 2004 with a BA in Elementary and Special Education. I currently work for Montgomery County Public Schools teaching 3rd grade. I encourage my students to think about their environmental impact and help to find ways to recycle and use less waste. We focus on science concepts such as plant growth, chromotography, and sound. We also work duely in social studies to discuss the reasons why the planet is in need of our help. This is a great way to enrich young minds to think about the future of our planet. GESP gave me the opportunity to work with some amazing teachers who encouraged me to become a teacher. They allowed me to be expressive and to think outside the box, which is what I now encourage my students to do as well.
Matthew Page - GESP Class of 2004
My name is Matthew Page and I am currently attending college at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). I am majoring in Psychology B.S., and Mathematics B.A. (minors in French and in Philosophy) I am currently working towards eventually pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with the hopes of opening a practice for psychotherapy. I want to focus on helping gay and lesbian adolescents, and plan on doing research on the relationships between parenting styles and coming out processes for LGBT youth in the upcoming year.
Gordon Phillips - GESP Class of 1999
My name is Gordon Phillips '99. After high school I studied contemporary U.S. history at St. Mary's College of Maryland, Class of '03. Today I am owner/operator of Green Fish Aquatics in Silver Spring, where I captive breed rare and endangered fish for a profit and sell them nationally through the internet. My specialty is African cichlids, currently I have three colonies of endangered Victorians breeding regularly, and more than a dozen species overall. The ecological understanding that I took from Global has been instrumental in my life, not just in understanding how to make water cleaner, but in knowing how systems function and information is organized.
Kevin Reig - GESP Class of 2010
I graduated from the Global Ecology Studies Program in 2010 with a skillset that gave me a major edge over many of my fellow peers in college. Having gone on to study a “non-hard science” major while pursing my undergraduate degree, I feel as if I have unique perspective on what GESP has to offer. I went off to pursue my undergraduate degree in Political Science with a strong set of research, writing, and public speaking skills due to the rigorous expectations by my teachers during my time at PHS. I immediately noticed that my work ethic, time management, confidence, and research abilities set me apart from many of my classmates.
Now at my current position with the Majority Staff on the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation in the House of Representative, I feel as if my GESP and undergraduate studies have come full circle. I can remember the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico happening during my senior year, and I remember starting each morning in APES discussing the spill and its impact on the environment. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over various laws that impacted the response to the spill as well as many other environmental laws in regards to the shipping industry. I undoubtedly believe that I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for GESP.
Zachary Russ- GESP Class of 2007
I just graduated summa cum laude from UMd with a double major in bioengineering and math; in the fall, I'll be starting a doctoral program in bioengineering at UC Berkeley. (I worked there two summers ago in their bioengineering lab as an Amgen Scholar and fell in love with the place) So I'm very happy about Berkeley and have been awarded a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) fellowship that will pay for grad school, along with a stipend for living expenses. I've also been writing articles for the past two years, and now as a paid blogger for the online magazine GEN (Genetic Engineering News): http://www.genengnews.com/blog-biotech
Wenceslao Shaw-Cortez-GESP Class of 2008
I am pleased to share with you the latest news about my son Wenceslao E Shaw-Cortez who graduated from University of Colorado Boulder, as Bachelor of Science Aerospace Engineering Sciences with the following university honors: SUMMA CUM LAUDE , Active Learning Award and High Distinction Award Medals.
This coming fall he will start at University of Colorado Boulder for his Master Degree in Aerospace Engineering.
Right now Wences is at Kassel, Germany; for an internship for the whole summer.
There are no words to express ourselves us parents how proud and happy we are and probably all the teachers Wences had during his years at this High School, who had also part of this success; we just want to say THANK YOU.
Sincerely, Monica Shaw-Cortez (Mother of Wenceslao Shaw-Cortez)
David Sosnowski - GESP Class of 2003, Major: Civil Engineering
The Global Ecology Studies Program not only opens doors, it provides you with the means to confidently walk through them into a larger world. While most students will only learn the fundamentals of math, the sciences, and English during their high school career, as a member of the Global Program you will graduate with much more. Through the courses and the environmental perspectives presented in the program, you will gain a broader world view. The skills, thought processes learned in Global will prove useful not only in a university setting, but also in the workplace. The Global Program prepares students for success in high school, in the university and as professionals.
Joanna Taylor - GESP Class of 2008, West Virginia University, Major in Wildlife and Fisheries Resource with a Minor in Conservation Ecology
I am currently interning at National Geographic in their Big Cats Initiative. My work has me reviewing grants, logging research conducted in various countries in Africa on lion and cheetah populations, mapping big cat population trends with those of human populations, helping to organize an educator's conference on big cats, and many of your typical "intern duties." I am planning on staying involved in the program at National Geographic over my senior year at West Virginia University, and continuing on after I complete my undergrad. Hopefully, next summer I will be working in the field in Africa on the conservation front-line, coming up with human-predator conflict solutions. I am also making plans to attend Duke University, or another university, to obtain my masters in a wildlife related field.
The GESP program had really prepared me for my college courses relating to the natural world. Fall of my sophomore year, I took a dendrology course, and we had to learn to identify and classify up to 180 different tree species. I already had a head start on many of my classmates thanks to Mrs. Bailey's AP Environmental Science class. I find myself constantly referring back to skills that I obtained while in the Global Ecology program. Other college courses I have taken that have extended the knowledge gained in GESP classes included conservation biology, wildlife and fisheries management, limnology, wildlife and fisheries techniques, environmental policy, and many more. I am currently working on undergraduate research looking at different enrichment techniques and the effects they have on the behavior of captive Amur tigers, which is basically an extension of my senior project I conducted in GESP.
I am also Vice President of the WVU Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society, VP and co-founder of the WVU Student Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and I have been an officer in the WVU Student Chapter of the American Fisheries Society as well. I am constantly representing WVU and their wildlife and fisheries program at student conclaves, national conferences, and symposiums around the country.
I love my major and am very excited for what my future will bring. I am extremely thankful to all my teachers at Poolesville High School and to the Global Ecology Studies Program that has helped me put a foot in the door to my future. Thank you!
Dan Trusilo - Class of 1999 United States Military Academy at West Point Major - International Relations and Systems Engineering
I am proud to have been a part of the Global Ecology Studies Program. The program brings together a diverse group of people to learn about the wilderness and all that it offers. I attribute a large part of my success in my difficult military training to my deep connection and understanding of the natural world. I am currently serving as a mechanized howitzer platoon leader in the 3rd battalion, 29th Field Artillery at Fort Carson, CO. I will be deployed to Iraq during this next year. Many times life is grim in the Army, especially with the current world situation. I find myself going where I find some peace. John Muir said, "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play inand pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to a body and soul."
Megan Turner - GESP Class of 2004, St. Mary's College of Maryland Major: Biology/Pre-med
More than any of the classes that I took in high school, my global classes are the ones that have proved to be the most beneficial to me as a college student. The Global Program taught me to "think outside the box" as Mr. Morrell said every day during freshman year. Thinking outside the box is the key to success in college as professors will expect an understanding of the material beyond what is written in the textbook. Also, all of the projects, activities and field trips taught me how to apply what I learned in the classroom to the real world. In addition, the style of teaching and the requirements of my Global classes, particularly AP Environmental Science, more closely resemble that of a college classroom. Most importantly, I carry the ethics taught in GESP. I don't mind going a little out of my way to recycle a can or to take a minute to just stop, look around at nature's beauty. I will carry these aspects of Global with me all through my life.
Robbie Vocke - GESP Class of 2004, University of MD Major: Engineering
Global was the best part of my high school experience. It provided a rich environment for me to apply all of the skills that I learned in class. It also was a setting in which close relationships were easy to make and maintain. I will carry the lessons of respect, and tewardship of the natural world with me through college and the rest of my life.
Esi Waters - GESP 2005, Duke University (2009)
2014 Update:Click Here and scroll down the page to see Esi in her new roll as Manager of Corporate Sustainability at Norfolk Southern.
If I were to describe the Global Ecology Program I would use the word opportunity. There were so many opportunities offered to me during my 4 years here. Global gave me the opportunity to develop deep relationships with my teachers because I saw them both in and out of the classroom. Global also gave me the opportunity to learn about the environment in a way that no textbook can provide. I also had an opportunity make lasting friendships because I had classes with so many other Global students and combined with our field trips and our overnight trips we became a family. I am just glad I got this opportunity to study environmental science in such a unique way. I can honestly say I wouldn't be majoring in Environmental science at Duke if it wasn't for this program.2014
Update from Esi:
It has definitely been a long time! I hope everything is going well with you and Global. I just wanted to let you know the impact that the Global Ecology Studies Program has had on me. I am currently in my third year at Duke on my way to earning a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration Environmental Sociology and Anthropology. This semester I am in Beaufort, NC studying at my school's Marine Lab while taking graduate level courses in Marine Science and Conservation and Development.
The knowledge and experience I got from Global has framed my thinking for just about everything I have done academically. I know for a fact that I am an Environmental Science major because of the program. This past summer I studied community based conservation projects, so I am applying for the Fulbright Fellowship so I can return to Ghana after graduation and do research on community based ecotourism. This summer, I will be working with the Conservation Trust for North Carolina as an intern with the Eno River Association (a local river in Durham, NC) in their Environmental Education Department. I know my love of environmental education came from my senior project when I taught Project WILD at Poolesville Elementary. During my interview, my interviewee asked me what my favorite Project WILD activity was and I told her it was "Oh Deer", I think she was impressed that I even remembered. So for all we know, the fact that I did Project WILD as my senior project got me this internship, so I just wanted to say thank you. I hope that Global continues to do senior projects because it is such a wonderful way to turn what we are learning in the classroom into practical skills. I also told my interviewee about the work we did with the Potomac Conservancy, which she was also impressed by. So thank you for preparing me to take the next step in my career, and for giving me the seeds that developed into my major and academic interests whilst in college.
I loved Global, it was so much fun and the field trips we went on were awesome. I only hope that the program is getting better and I'm sure it is under your and Mrs. Bradshaw's leadership. But most of all, I just wanted to say a big thank you for all of the opportunities the program (and your class) has afforded me and keep up the good work :)
Rich Wilkinson- GESP 1996
I graduated from Global Ecology in 1996, I attended the Nazarene Bible College and I am currently attending Asbury Theological Seminar working on my Master's of Divinity with a specialization in Bible and Biblical Languages.