Scherb '24 Gains Hands-On Experience Through ODNR Summer Internship
August 30, 2024COLUMBUS — Making an impact in her field prior to graduating, environmental science major Jaci Scherb ’24 participated in hands-on research across Ohio through as part of her summer internship with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Scherb applied for the internship through the ODNR website and secured a spot after an interview matching her interests and skills with the areas where she could learn the most. One of those areas included stream quality monitoring for the Department of Natural Areas and Preserves, where she sampled macroinvertebrates that indicate the quality of streams. Scherb and her colleagues also did a significant amount of eco-management and community outreach to teach local constituents about stream health.
Thanks to her Mount Union coursework, faculty connections, and access to the Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center, Scherb felt prepared to take on these roles.
“My environmental labs have gotten me very interested in the fieldwork I could potentially get into,” Scherb said. “Working outside with classmates at the Nature Center and around campus made me confident in my abilities to work outside. Environmental science is a great curriculum through Mount Union. The professors care about your success and will do everything they can to see you succeed. Never be afraid to ask questions and learn from your mistakes!”
Her passion for the environment and ambition to land the ODNR internship have already led Scherb to another part-time environmental consultant role with Benesch in Salem, Ohio this fall that will turn into a full-time position upon her graduation in December.
Learn more about the environmental science major at mountunion.edu/environmental-science.