It is a true honor to receive the 2022 Michael G. Scott Award. Mr. Scott made incredible contributions to both our country's freedom and the environment and I am enamored to be related to his legacy in this way. This accolade would not be possible without the support of my friends, family, and faculty that have pushed me to be the absolute best version of myself over the last four years at Cal Poly Humboldt. 

Five years ago, I had no idea that Cal Poly Humboldt and the Fisheries Biology program even existed. As an avid salmon and steelhead angler growing up in Washington State, working with the conservation of these species has always been a dream of mine. The discovery of Cal Poly Humboldt opened my eyes to the world of Fisheries Biology and the science that encompasses it. Out of all of my great memories and experiences I have acquired over the last four years, the thing I value most about the Fisheries Biology program is the passion of our professors and faculty. Throughout the course of my education, every fisheries professor I had made an effort to assist me in one way or another. The Fisheries Biology program is led by some truly incredible individuals that are passionate about their jobs and sincerely care about the future and well-being of their students. Another aspect of the Fisheries Biology program that I appreciate is the companionship that comes along with it. Many of my current best friends are also in the Fisheries Biology program, and being surrounded by individuals with the same goals and passions as myself has been monumental for my academic success.

In the future, my dream is to enter the field of Salmonid Conservation. I have been working at Taylor Shellfish for the past year, gaining hands-on real-world experience in the aquaculture field, and the cultivation of shellfish is also something I hope to be a part of in the future. I hope to do some level of international work in my future to gain experience with global diversity in the fisheries field. For me, as long as I truly know I am making a difference in the ecological world, I will be satisfied. When it is all said and done, I am hoping to have extensive experience working as a fisheries biologist in the Alaskan backcountry.