Alumni Tidbits
The Class of 2006 was the first group to be enrolled in the Environmental Science and Everglades Restoration program for all four
years as magnet students.
Since then, many students have continued their environmental interests after leaving high school. We want to know what you have been doing in both college and your careers. Send us updates as well.
Please email joann.cantlupe@browardschools.com or asculpepper@aol.com to let us know what we can share with readers. Send photos as well.
years as magnet students.
Since then, many students have continued their environmental interests after leaving high school. We want to know what you have been doing in both college and your careers. Send us updates as well.
Please email joann.cantlupe@browardschools.com or asculpepper@aol.com to let us know what we can share with readers. Send photos as well.
Myers was part of an organizing group for an event on a hybrid electric ferry where former Governor Jerry Brown enacted key California climate policies.
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Posing with a charging station is indicative of her focus on electric transportation − land or sea.
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In Georgia, Myers spoke to the City Council in support of an electric vehicle infrastructure policy which was adopted that day.
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Amanda Myers Continues To Focus on Climate Policy
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Currently Amanda Myers (Class of 2009) is a Senior Policy Analyst at Energy Innovation focusing on power sector decarbonization and electrification research and analysis. Previously, as Public Policy Manager at ChargePoint, she focused on policies promoting the use of electric vehicles through clean fuels markets and local building codes in North America.
The Paladin valedictorian became interested in solar energy and equity issues as she led the EcoGeeks Team to a national win in the Lexus Eco Challenge. sharing the $50,000 scholarship award. Her interest in zero-emission technology and policy expanded into college. During her undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, she interned at the Environmental Law and Policy Center and at the White House Council on Environmental Quality as she earned a B.A. in Political Science with minors in Chinese Language and Business Institutions. |
At the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco in 2018, Myers arranged charging for the electric vehicles that carried diplomats to Summit events.
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She also spent one summer in Beijing at Peking University studying Mandarin and China's political economy.
After graduation, she worked at SolarCity. She led and supported public engagement efforts for rooftop solar advocacy before joining ChargePoint. Myers credits much of her interest in environmental policy to her parents and the magnet program at South Plantation High. Her mother, Pam Krauss, is an environmental attorney and educator who became the SPHS magnet coordinator and her father, Eric Myers, led the Broward County Environmental Division for many years until they retired to "live off the grid" in North Carolina. "My parents visited me in Atlanta since I was 'nearby-ish' advocating for electric vehicle policy adoption, and they took the charging station photo," she said "It was a 'Take Your Parents to Work Day' for me." |
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Danielle Koushel Creates Blog in Coast Guard Career
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Danielle Koushel (Class of 2012) was an ER Ambassador President who created programs for elementary students. At the University of Florida she earned a Master's Degree in Soil and Water Sciences and a Bachelor's in Forest Resources and Conservation.
When the Florida Museum of Natural History featured her in the Student Commit section of the "Our Energy Future" exhibit, it indicated her commitment to the environment and the university. For the residential students, she developed an award-winning program on water usage, and she also coordinated a club to promote and maintain environmental awareness on campus. After graduation she was employed expanding her knowledge on sampling and data analysis at different locations throughout Florida. |
"It's been a while since you last heard from from me, and that's because I've had an insane last couple of months. I attended Basic Officer Training Class (BOTC) at the Coast Guard Academy and somehow survived five intense months of leadership and nautical training. I finally received my commission as an Ensign in the NOAA Corps. I was assigned to the NOAA Ship Rainier on the west coast and will be completing a two-year sea tour. I'm headed off to Alaska this Friday to board my ship and perform hydrographic surveying in the pacific.
"I wanted to thank the South Plantation magnet teachers again for all that they have contributed to my journey, and share with you the link to my blog where I will be recording all my adventures at sea and beyond." https://seaserviens.home.blog/ |
NOAA Internship Produces Research for Dr. Daryl Sibble
Daryl Sibble earned his his doctoral degree from FAMU.
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For the past two years, Dr. Daryl Sibble (Class of 2006) is a Natural Resource Specialist with Broward County focusing on air quality assessment and equipment including collection of data.
On his way to completing his Doctoral degree in the School of the Environment Science at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), Daryl Sibble (Class of 2006) was one of only two students to receive NOAA's first educational partnership program (EPP) Graduate Research and Training Scholarship afforded him $45,000 to support his research opportunities with NOAA |
Sibble’s research focused on collecting data that would help develop best practices for fertilizer use in agriculture, specifically fertilizer that uses ammonium nitrate, which can be a threat to human health.
The majority of his research was conducted at the Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division of the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Air Resources Laboratory, located in Oak Ridge, Tenn. He also spent time measuring weather and ammonia flux data at the University of Illinois’ energy farm. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Meteorology at Florida State University in 2011. |
Jacob Ewert Shares His Environmental Passions Beyond the UF
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Jacob Ewert (Class of 2018) was president of the ER Ambassadors during his senior year in the Magnet program where he started a campus-wide Kindness Rocks project and worked with the Youth Environmental Alliance to study the ecological diversity of restored vs naturally formed dunes for his senior project.
“The ER Ambassadors helped me discover my love for teaching others about the environment. Inspiring others is one of the best feelings in the world." He currently studies plant science at the University of Florida with plans of going into plant evolution research and public outreach. Although plants are part of his career goals, |
Jacob is also president of the birdwatching club at UF, the GREBE (Gators Ready for Exceptional Birding Experiences) Audubon Campus Chapter. This club brings together students interested in birds through outreach events, birding trips and research opportunities.
The club is currently spearheading a conservation project where the GREBEs will be installing a native plant demonstration garden on campus to serve as a resource for Gainesville residents to learn how important native plants are for birds in a changing climate. “I definitely would not be where I am today without Mr.Zealy and the entire SPHS Magnet family!” |
Shawn Abrahams wins National Science Foundation Grant
Uses the research data for dissertation as he becomes Dr. Shawn Abrahams
Dr. Shawn Abrahams (Class of 2010) was awarded the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW) grant. With this award, he will be spending the first eight months of 2019 as a visiting researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands (about an hour out of Amsterdam).
He will work with esteemed researchers and learn new genomic/bioinformatic techniques in support of his PhD dissertation research. He has published material: https://decodingscience.missouri.edu/2021/03/30/ph-d-botanist-inspired-to-start-african-american-scientists-series/ |
"I was so excited to have this opportunity and had the time of my life working on some pretty amazing."
Abrahams graduated from UF in 2014 with a degree in Botany and worked with Bob Graham (see below). He did not get a master's degree, but did an internship with the Everglades Foundation and FIU for a year after graduating. With them he was looking at the effects of sea level rise on fresh water plant communities and had 15 seconds in a PBS program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggOl-vaXIFk He got that internship when he went to an event at UF put on by the Bob Graham Center, and although he did not qualify for their standard internships they wanted to make something for him given his understanding of a lot of issues facing the Everglades. "SPHS definitely got me that job!" From there he went directly into PhD program at Mizzou where he studies plant evolution in the Mustard Family. He defended his dissertation in May 2021. |
Nicholas McKenna: Alum Continues Computer Innovations
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The App was launched on April 22, 2014 for Earth Day, and connected the user to South Florida's rich environmental and recreational offerings.
Users could explore the restoration efforts and critical natural areas of the Everglades, as well as the fun activities available outdoors. Start by looking at the map. Then pick an area that looks interesting. wherEverglades provides information about each site including native flora and faun, local restoration efforts, and available recreational opportunities. Users can get directions to each place or find more information online with the help of wherEverglades database. Now at Brown University, Nick continued as a paid student consultant to the Everglades Foundation, working with two SPHS magnet interns to finalize the App. |
Daniel Myers uses engineering know-how for invention
Submitted photo
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Daniel Myers attended Northwestern University where he majored in computer science. He continues to combine his engineering and environmental efforts after graduating.
As the designer/racer of the first Solar Knight, he is now the CEO of Flair, a San Francisco start-up company. It was founded May 2014 in Chicago Illinois. His invention (shown in the photo) |
enables consumers to adjust the temperature
of different rooms in their homes using a smart system. A small wireless thermostat links to a motor-controlled vent that can open or close to do custom heating and cooling changes. The wireless vent sends a signal to adjust the flow of air to different rooms. Myers graduated in 2008 after establishing the successful Solar Knights racing program. |
After South Plantation: UF students join Senator Graham
At the University of Florida, Sean Tupper (2012) Shawn Abrahams (2010) and Candace O'Neill (2011) had the opportunity to work with former Governor and Florida Senator Bob Graham.
The goal of the workshop is to empower collegiate students with previous direct exposure to the Everglades to become personally involved in advancing Everglades restoration through the knowledge and competencies of active citizenship.
Workshop modules include the Everglades: natural and human history; Everglades restoration: the future; What we need to insure the implementation of the plan; and Skills of citizenship.
The goal of the workshop is to empower collegiate students with previous direct exposure to the Everglades to become personally involved in advancing Everglades restoration through the knowledge and competencies of active citizenship.
Workshop modules include the Everglades: natural and human history; Everglades restoration: the future; What we need to insure the implementation of the plan; and Skills of citizenship.