Three Graduate Students Set Sail with Lake Champlain Sea Grant
By Jessie Curl, Communications Lead & Program Specialist, Lake Champlain Sea Grant
We are excited to introduce the newest members of the Lake Champlain Sea Grant team. Our three graduate assistants will be working on a variety of projects that support research, education, and outreach efforts throughout the Lake Champlain Basin. Keep reading to learn more about each student and their work!
Meet Kylie Kress
Kylie Kress joined Lake Champlain Sea Grant as a graduate assistant in June. Through her master’s studies in the Natural Resources and Ecology Program at SUNY Plattsburgh, Kylie will be leading educational programming in stream monitoring, microplastics, lake ecology, and more. In this role, Kylie will provide leadership and training to the undergraduate Watershed Educators, helping to prepare the next generation of environmental educators. Kylie will also be the primary communicator to schoolteachers in planning field trips and classroom experiences. In addition, Kylie is taking initiative to extend resources to K–12 students and their families after field trips by supporting an extensive project-based learning unit with Beekmantown Central School District and a Lake Champlain Basin Program grant “Classrooms to Watersheds” with Plattsburgh City School District. This grant will allow Kylie to teach high school students to lead watershed science education programs to fourth-grade classrooms.
“As a previous undergraduate Watershed Educator for Lake Champlain Sea Grant, Kylie is going to be incredibly valuable to Watershed Alliance,” shared Tori DesRocher, LCSG Watershed Education Coordinator. “She is approaching the graduate assistantship with extensive knowledge, training, and understanding of how our K–12 education and undergraduate internship programs operate, allowing her to be a great mentor to the rest of the Watershed Alliance team at SUNY Plattsburgh. I am especially honored by her return and fervor for watershed science education, and look forward to having such an ambitious and optimistic person to support our education initiatives in New York.”
Kylie first connected with Lake Champlain Sea Grant as an undergraduate intern with the Watershed Alliance, where she led K–12 students through place-based watershed science programs. She also worked a season as an Aquatic Invasive Species Boat Steward with the Canadarago Lake Improvement Association, educating boaters about preventing the spread of invasive species.
Her passion for environmental stewardship continued through a summer of service with the AmeriCorps NCCC in Oregon, where she worked alongside the Institute for Applied Ecology on invasive species removal and prairie habitat restoration. After finishing her undergraduate program at SUNY Plattsburgh, Kylie worked as a Fire Tower Steward with Friends of Poke-O-Moonshine, educating hikers about Adirondack ecology, fire tower history, and Leave No Trace principles. Kylie is excited to continue building on these experiences in her new role as a graduate assistant.
“I’m excited to return to Watershed Alliance as a graduate assistant after first joining the program as an undergraduate intern,” shared Kress. “This role allows me to continue growing as an environmental educator while helping students build connections with the Lake Champlain watershed.”
Meet Sydney Talley
Sydney is a graduate student at the University of Vermont pursuing a master’s degree in Natural Resources under the advisement of Anne Jefferson, Lake Champlain Sea Grant Director and faculty member in UVM’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. Through her master’s research, Sydney will conduct a case study of participants in the BLUE BTV program. She will explore how participation in the program influences environmental stewardship and championship within their communities, while also identifying barriers to the maintenance and upkeep of installed green stormwater infrastructure projects.
Originally from Conway, Arkansas, Sydney earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Arkansas, majoring in Environmental, Soil, and Water Science.
During her undergraduate studies, she completed an undergraduate honors thesis exploring the impact of soil moisture regimes on changes in soil chemical properties over time in Arkansas’ native tallgrass prairies. Her research is to be published in Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. In addition to research experience, Sydney has also worked with K–12 students and educators. She previously served as an environmental education intern with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, where she organized and led programming, engaged with the community through public programming, and developed interpretive materials for the nature center.
“I am most looking forward to building place-based knowledge of the beautiful and unique Lake Champlain Basin!” shared Talley. “I am excited for the opportunity to work with students and community members that want to engage in learning about and protecting the watershed!”
Ashley Eaton, Watershed and Lake Education Coordinator, is equally excited to welcome Sydney to the team.
“We are so grateful to have Sydney joining our education team!” remarked Eaton. “Sydney brings a deep understanding of environmental science to our team and a range of experience working with K–12 students through her work with Arkansas Fish and Wildlife. I am so excited to share our wonderful watershed with Sydney and co-teach with her this semester!”
Meet Aveline McCabe
Aveline has joined Lake Champlain Sea Grant as a Graduate Assistant. She will support outreach programming on the New York side, including shoreline cleanups, public boat trips, and marine debris education. As part of her MS, Aveline will work with Dr. Tim Mihuc at SUNY Plattsburgh on a documentary film narrating aquatic invasive species (AIS) establishment, impacts, and control in Lake Champlain.
“We’re excited to welcome Aveline to the team. Her MS work will help portray biological invasion in Lake Champlain waters in a fun and creative way. Aveline also brings a level of enthusiasm and professionalism that make her an asset when interacting with the public” shared Aude Lochet, LCSG Water Resources Extension Specialist.
Aveline, originally from White Bear Township, Minnesota, received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Southern New Hampshire University, where she gained research experience during a multi-semester project studying urban green roofs for SNHU. Prior to joining LCSG, Aveline worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as an aquatic invasive species watercraft inspector.
“I am looking forward to learning more about Lake Champlain and working with the community on environmental issues, especially aquatic invasive species,” reflected McCabe.
LCSG is delighted to welcome these students to the team.