Scholarship Spotlight-Carylanne Joubert Maier

GEM Environmental would like to congratulate Carylanne Joubert Maier on her Undergraduate Scholarship Award. Carylanne is one of our newest hardworking recipients. Congratulations Carylanne!

How did you hear about G.E.M. Environmental and this scholarship opportunity?
I learned about it through Arizona State University.
Please provide a brief description about yourself. 
I am from Central Florida where I live with my husband and two dogs. I enjoy reading, writing, scuba diving, nature photography, video games, and teaching. I value STEM education because we need it to not only explain the goings-on in our world but also to better understand our world so we can protect it. If we destroy our planet, we destroy our home. Not to mention, there are so many other creatures that call the planet home; we should protect it for all creatures.
Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
My area of focus is on Biology in Conservation and Ecology. I write about animals to teach kids about them, and I also intend to do research in local areas to me. I am planning a study on the yellow stingray at Phil Foster Park/Blue Heron Bridge to look at its diet, habitat, and the potential of the species as a whole moving north due to climate change.
If your scholarship funds HAVE NOT BEEN USED yet, how do you anticipate you will achieve success? 
I will be using my funds to pay for my college courses so that I can continue my education in Biology and to fund the beginning of my research project on yellow rays. This will allow me success as it allows me to continue my degree without having to stop due to finances, and it allows me to pursue my bigger goal of getting a Ph.D. in Biology so that I can be a successful researcher and teacher in the field. For the research project, it will benefit the scientific community in answering questions about the species that are as of yet unanswered. This can also help the community because the project may lead to a proposal to the local government to add better habitat markers for the yellow stingray to the site I am studying which will increase tourism to the site through snorkelers and divers.
Tell us what this scholarship means to you.
This scholarship means so much to me as a female scientist who is a first-generation student, a person with disabilities, and a non-traditional student. I now have the means of continuing my education towards my major goal of having a Ph.D. in Biology, and this will lead me to be able to live my life dream of working in the field of Biology. This definitely takes financial stress off my shoulders so that I can continue my education without worrying about skipping semesters to save money