Water Quality
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Meet the 2009 VLMP Interns
Qiuhong 'Chewy' Hunsicker
Hello Everyone! I would like to take a section of The Water Column to introduce myself. My name is Qiuhong Hunsicker, but I am known as Chewy by my friends and colleagues. I come from a town outside of Philadelphia but spend a majority of my time in Maine. I have recently completed my junior year at Bates College and am an Environmental Studies major with a concentration in ecology. I chose to be an Environmental Studies major because I love learning about how natural processes work, find them fascinating and how if one element of the link is broken, the cycle becomes unstable. After Bates, I envision myself spending a lot of time working outside carrying out research, getting involved with conservation and preservation projects, or educating people about the great outdoors, which a concentration in ecology would allow. I will be interning with Snake Hill Farm in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and am looking forward to a summer filled with fun working with animals, food and people.
I came across the VLMP on the Environmental Studies department homepage listings of possible internship opportunities, as every major is required to fulfill an internship before graduating. Interning with the VLMP for the month of May has further developed my interest in working outside alongside others who share similar love for nature. The internship has taught me the many aspects behind VLMP’s success as an organization from simple tasks such as putting stamps on envelopes to be sent to you to helping out with the training workshops. I have come to realize even the smallest jobs play significant roles to the overall mission VLMP is addressing. Furthermore, I learn a lot from reading the data and summary reports of the lakes volunteers have monitored over the years. I applaud you for the time, commitment, devotion and hard work you have given to the VLMP, keeping Maine’s lakes healthy and crystal clear, so that we may enjoy the natural beauties that surround us. I am grateful to the VLMP for giving me the opportunity to work with them and wish the organization the best from this point on.
Thank you!
Mickey DiPesa
Mickey DiPesa is nearly finished with her Wildlife degree at Unity College in the foothills of central Maine. During her education she has encountered all types of animals and has a soft spot in her heart for the slimy ones that most people stay away from. For the past several summers she has worked with Mass Audubon at their Wildwood Sanctuary helping curious children form respectful relationships with the environment. This summer she will be working mostly with the DEP in Augusta but will also be working at VLMP in Auburn. When she’s not knee deep in water she works at a dairy farm in Knox saving the world one calf at a time.
Ilse Pukinskis
Ilse Pukinskis is a summer intern with the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitor Program. Raised in Connecticut, she recently finished her second year at Bowdoin College, where she is an Environmental Studies and Government combined major. A spring semester class on environmental science gave her a deeper understanding of Maine's environmental concerns, which encouraged her to pursue a summer internship inside the state. Ilse is an avid horseback rider and captain of her school's Equestrian Team. In the spring of 2010 she will be studying abroad in Thailand through a program focused on the local impacts of globalization and development. Ilse hopes to pursue a career in international environmental policy and sustainable development and is very excited to be spending the summer working to protect the beautiful lakes of Maine.
Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program
vlmp@mainevlmp.org
24 Maple Hill Road, Auburn, ME 04210
(207) 783-7733
www.MaineVolunteerLakeMonitors.org
copyright 2010 Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program | website comments to: vlmp@mainevlmp.org
