​We are proud to announce the newest recipient of the GEM for STEM Graduate Scholarship Award, Grace Sinisalo.
Grace is 24 years old and was born and raised in Northern Minnesota. She spends most of her free time watching TV, hanging with friends and family, enjoying the fresh air & being outside, or playing fetch with her adorable one-year old puppy Winston.

​Grace first became passionate about the STEM fields in middle school when a particular teacher showed her how fun science can be and how much it can influence our everyday lives. She has always had a math/science-based mind, so working with numbers and facts has always piqued her interest. Being passionate about learning about the STEM fields, even from a young age, made her grow and excel as a student throughout all her studies. It continued into high school and later into her undergraduate degree in biology. Grace attributes her success in school and her future in medicine, to finding a love to learn through the STEM fields and the support of her teachers. Congratulations Grace!

Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
Right now I am an AmeriCorps volunteer serving with Arizona Serve at Yavapai County Community Health Services. My current role is as the Opioid Harm Reduction Coordinator. In this position, I work with local organizations, community members, and county and state boards in order to promote harm reduction strategies that revolve around Opioid Use Disorder. I am focused specifically on Naloxone education and distribution, destigmatization and education about Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), and improved access to MAT for pregnant women throughout Yavapai County. While working full time in this position, I am also fine tuning applications for medical school and studying to take my MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) in order to pursue my dream of becoming a physician. From a young age, with the help of the STEM fields, I have had a passion for medicine and the healthcare field. I am honored to be working alongside health care workers in Public Health and I look forward to continuing my education in medicine.

If your scholarship funds HAVE NOT BEEN USED yet, how do you anticipate you will achieve success?
I have not had the opportunity to use my scholarship award yet as I am waiting to use it towards medical school application fees in the upcoming month. Without this money, I would be struggling to even apply for medical school because of how much it costs to apply per school. I am grateful to have this scholarship money to take the financial weight of applications off my shoulders and to focus on getting into the school I want. By becoming a physician, I will constantly be using my knowledge in the STEM fields to treat and care for patients, as well as contribute unique findings in medicine to the field of science.
 
Tell us what this scholarship means to you.
As mentioned above, I am so grateful for this scholarship and the relief of the financial burden associated with medical school application fees. To apply to medical school is expensive, but to apply as an AmeriCorps VISTA is even more detrimental on the bank account.... Without this G.E.M. scholarship, I would have difficulties even submitting an application to pursue my dream of becoming a physician.

GEM Environmental is excited to announce a new addition to the team! Please welcome Abby Ruby, who is our new AmeriCorps VISTA Member STEM Outreach Specialist, through Arizona Serve and GEM.
 
Abby is from Bel Air, Maryland. She went to school at the University of Alabama where she majored in Mechanical Engineering. She loves anything outside, whether it be hiking, kayaking, or rock climbing! Abby also played Ultimate Frisbee for four years at school and during summers. Her love for science and math has helped her reach her goals and has furthered her education. This is why she wants to use her passion and get other students excited about STEM and show them all the possibilities they can have for their future education. Welcome to the team Abby!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
I became interested in working for AmeriCorps during my senior year of college when I realized I wanted to dedicate my work to volunteerism. I received an email from Arizona Serve that had information about GEM Environmental Program which sounded like a great way to combine my passion for STEM with my desire to serve a community.
 
Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
As a STEM Education Outreach Specialist, I will be working to give students in Prescott and surrounding areas education opportunities in STEM.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
Through speaker series, field trips, fundraisers, and scholarships/ internships I hope to open students' eyes to the many possibilities they have through STEM Education. In addition, I hope to extend our reach to low-income areas where children may not have as many opportunities for education and growth.
 
What are your career goals?
While I'm not totally sure of how I want to use my degree in my career, I know that I want to spend my life creating change and improving people's quality of life. Biomechanical Engineering has always been very appealing to me because I will be able to use my engineering/ science background in a growing and beneficial field.
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
I'm not sure right now, but I would love to get a PhD in order to teach at a higher level.
Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far?
Yes, I have had two engineering internships in the past. These internships taught me so much beyond just technical skills... such as responsibility, problem solving, and project management.
 
Anything else you'd like to share about your work, yourself, or the STEM fields?
I am so excited to use my combined passions for STEM and community empowerment to make a difference in Prescott!

​To learn more about Abby click here!

​GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Jackson Lodermeier is one of our Youth Conservation Interns working as a Range Technician Assistant in cooperation with the BLM at the Lower Sonoran Field Office.
 
This summer Jackson made the trek from Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was born and raised. He grew up fishing, camping, and enjoying what the Great Lakes region has to offer. This led to his excitement for the outdoors and prompted him to begin studying Geography. Jackson is now a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison finishing his B.S. in Cartography and GIS. He is grateful for the support and education from his STEM teachers and professors because he now sees the value these subjects carry in a pursuit for a brighter future. Welcome to the team Jackson!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
This internship came to my attention after searching for GIS experience with conservation. Having worked with a non-profit in the past, I was eager to learn about GEM Environmental and its commitment to engaging STEM students with opportunities to work with agencies.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
During my time with GEM and the BLM, I plan to get acquainted with the process of federal agency work, exercise skills I have taken away from my education, and learn new ones alongside like-minded peers.
 
What are your career goals?
In the short term, I plan to gain experience using GIS within public lands, land management, and/or resource management. In a broader scope, I strive to become an expert and a leadership figure in my field.
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
This fall, I will complete my undergraduate degree and begin my career thereafter. I will, however, keep the possibility of a graduate program open if research or specialization in the future interests me.
 
Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far?
Last year, I joined the Arizona Conservation Corps for a 6-month AmeriCorps service term. Here I served on a trail crew, a disaster relief effort, and led ten local youth for the Petrified Forest National Park's youth conservation crew. Through this experience, I learned how to follow, how to lead, and how to survive long days in the Arizona sun. Getting to work alongside the BLM, Forest Service, and National Park Service was a memorable introduction to the different opportunities available to work in public lands.

To learn more about Jackson check out his profile:
http://jlodermeier.github.io/

GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Jordan Bracy is one of our Youth Conservation Interns working as a Range Technician Assistant in cooperation with the BLM at the Aqua Fria National Monument out of the Hassayampa Field Office.
​
Jordan was born in Safford, Arizona and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated at Northern Arizona University in the fall of 2020 earning his Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Anthropology. He has an interest in both indoor and outdoor activities. For his preferred indoor activities, he enjoys watching shows, putting together puzzles, and bonding with family. His favorite outdoor activities include going on walks either in the city or on trails, going fishing, and recently he has decided to take up gardening. Jordan think STEM education is important because teaching people of all ages the importance of different sciences allows for an inter-disciplined population that both respects and desires to participate in STEM-based activities. Welcome to the team Jordan!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
I had been doing some job searching for some time on different websites. I wanted something that fit me. I wanted something research and team based as that is what I enjoy doing the most. When I had seen the internship posting online by GEM Environmental, I knew this was the place for me!
 
Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
I don’t have a lot of experience in one particular area as of yet as my undergraduate degree was focused mainly on the broad spectrum of environmental science ranging anywhere from environmental policy, to ecology. However, this has allowed me to see the many different areas that I could focus on in the future as I continue to learn more about the field by participating in opportunities such as the one provided by GEM Environmental. One particular route that has interested me, is the path toward becoming an Environmental Manager.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
During my time with GEM Environmental, I expect to gain a greater understanding of conservation efforts in a professional setting. I want to gain as much knowledge and experience as I can by working alongside both professionals and other interns who also have knowledge that I may not. I also want to help this organization grow and participate in tangible projects to better aid conservation efforts.

What are your career goals?
I know that I want to pursue a career that will hold high importance to environmental work. A career in which I can feel accomplished and satisfied to finally reach. Although I’m not completely sure what that career might entail, I have been considering an early position as an Environmental Specialist and a later position after I finish my Master’s Degree as an Environmental Manager.
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
After gaining some experience in the real world, I will go back to school to complete my Master’s Degree in Environmental Management to become and Environmental Manager. I want to take on one of the highest roles to be given to someone in the environmental field so I can feel like the work that I’m doing is for the betterment of the environment. For me, when I think of the best place to make the greatest impact for environmentalism, I think of large corporations that withhold some of the most power and wealth in the world. Being able to change the course of their actions to meet environmental regulations will allow for more sustainable options to be used. Starting with one corporation and continuing to the next, I will be able to make a real difference in the world. I don’t want to lose the beautiful environment that we live in, so I will strive for excellence in my life to do my part.
 
Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far?
I have done two separate internships as an undergraduate student before partaking in this one. My first internship experience was a partnership between NAU and nonprofit organization Flagstaff Foodlink to create a map of the fruit trees in Flagstaff to decrease food waste and increase equity. This was done under Graduate Assistant Kira Farmer and 6 undergraduate students including myself. We created a website that people could easily access from Flagstaff Foodlink’s homepage that includes all of the work that we had down throughout the internship experience. This included the research we had done, a graphic to help people with apple identification, and the map itself. The second internship that I was apart of included 4 undergraduate students including myself working under the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. This internship was dedicated to understanding citizen science projects happening in other places of the world as well as citizen science projects currently happening in Flagstaff. The point of doing this was to create a proposal for organizations currently doing citizen science projects in Flagstaff to aid them in other directions they may take to initiate successful projects and to get more people involved in their projects as well. Doing so much environmental research alongside others has allowed for me become comfortable working alongside different organizations as well as cultivating deep connections with those around me to create palpable results that benefit people and the environment.

Anything else you'd like to share about your work, yourself, or the STEM fields?
I’m a driven individual who just wants to do good for the environment while also building relationships along the way!

Check out Jordan's first internship group's website:  
https://flagstafflinkgleaninginitiative.food.blog/