As we kick off another of the Earth Team Internship at Pinole Valley High School, we would like to highlight the stories of our amazing interns. Throughout the year, they will focus on community environmental restoration projects, watershed health, climate literacy, and many more amazing projects. Please welcome this year’s Earth Team interns!
Hello! I’m Donovan Bantay and I’m a junior at Pinole Valley. My pronouns are He/Him and I’m a new ET member and I am excited for this upcoming year! I’ve always had a passion for nature, I want to give as much as it’s given to me and I plan to pursue a career in environmental engineering. I’m pretty excited to have the opportunity to give back to my community and fight our environmental issues as an intern. I love tennis, food, my dogs, reading books, watching soccer, and listening to music. I’m so excited to meet new peers this year and build new connections!
Hello! I am Natalie Szumlas and this is my 4th year in Earth Team! I am very interested in biodiversity and the science behind our environment. This year I hope to make a difference within the community, especially in the creek. I want to continue to maintain the two gardens we have and see more pollinators as the year goes on. More than anything, I want to see how much I have grown in Earth Team since my freshman year. 🙂
Hi, my name is Tze. With a passion to improve our community, I joined Earth Team to learn about ongoing environmental issues. It had always been a goal of mine to revitalize the urban planning industry and make life more efficient for people like me and you. I often spend my free time visiting new places and exploring the world. Traveling is my life goal as I am curious to learn about different cultures and traditions around the world. I am hoping that Earth Team could provide us with new insights to climate crisis and allow us to continuously innovate and grow.
Hello! My name is Angela and my passion for nursing, public health, and the outdoors drives my interest in Earth Team. I’ve always been motivated by the idea of helping people and improving the wellbeing of my community. In addition to my healthcare interests, I enjoy spending time in nature whether it’s admiring scenic views, going to the shoreline behind my house, or simply watching the sunset. Earth Team is an exciting opportunity for me to combine my interests for the outdoors with my goal of making a positive impact on public health. I’m excited to learn how environmental factors affects health outcomes and to work on projects that contribute to a healthier and sustainable future. By participating in Earth Team, I hope to develop leadership skills and gain knowledge that will help me pursue a career in nursing and public health, while making a meaningful difference in my community!
My name is Camila Castillo and I am a second-year Earth Team intern. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, knitting, and embroidery. I the past year, I participated in numerous clean-ups with Earth Team, which peaked my interest in environmental work and inspired me to return for another year. I want to deepen my understanding of environmental issues and learn more about how I can make a positive impact. Through Earth Team, I hope to gain knowledge and practical skills on how I can contribute more effectively to environmental conservation. I am excited to continue working with Earth Team.
Hello! My name is Melanie, and I’m a senior at Pinole Valley High. I come from a Hispanic family, particularly my parents, who moved here from Peru. A fun fact about me is that I’m the oldest of four siblings, including two brothers and one sister. I have lived around the bay area my whole life. I enjoy learning about the environment and wildlife, particularly marine life. I also enjoy listening to different types of music.Through Earth Team, I have had the opportunities to learn about environmental issues while also becoming involved in my community. I’ve met so many wonderful people and gained valuable cooperation skills through my team. This year I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and interact more with my peers. I also want to gain skills in leadership. I hope that we work together to have an amazing year and gain many memorable memories!
Hello! My name is Dominique Acosta and I am currently a sophomore at Pinole Valley High School. I’ve lived in Pinole since forever, so one of the reasons I joined Earth Team was definitely so that I could help out the local environment. Some of my hobbies include listening to music (ENHYPEN FTW), playing Animal Jam, doing video editing, and hanging out with my little brother. I joined Earth Team because I am currently interested in bioengineering and I want to explore the environmental side of the field. Through this program, I hope to gain some new knowledge about the planet, learn about environmental careers, and help the Earth. =)
Hello my name is Bethany, I’m a freshman that had heard about the EarthTeam from my friend who found the poster during school lunchtime. My current interest is being somewhere in the medical field, spending time with my friends and family, playing volleyball with my past teammates, cooking, baking, and drawing. I’m hoping to be able to have better confidence in public speaking, learn how to be more independent with work, and learn more about our climate.
Hi, I’m Ahmad. I joined Earth Team because I was interested in taking a class on the environment and what we can and can’t do at my high school, but I could not. I found Earth Team and thought it was a great way for me to learn and have an impact on the environment around me. Some of my hobbies include playing volleyball, rock climbing, and hiking. My goals for this year are to go to college, finish my internship, and have fun!
We’re so excited for everything these interns will accomplish this year. Stay tuned for more updates about their adventures!
