Meet INHF's 2024 Summer Interns
Posted on June 20, 2024 in Blog
Meet our 2024 summer interns! With 18 interns out in the field and three in the office, INHF is pleased to introduce this group of young hands and voices making a difference this summer.
Loess Hills Land Stewardship Interns
Hannah Hageman
Hometown: Bronson, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Bur oak
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Forestry
“I am exited to work with different organizations across the state. Applying the knowledge I am learning in school to the field is also an exciting part of this internship.”
Sam Thompson
Hometown: Papillion, NE
Favorite native plant/animal: American bison
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Animal Ecology
Minor(s): Forestry
“I am really excited to get to work alongside professionals in the field and learn more about Iowa’s wildlands. I am also looking forward to learning lots of new plants and animals!”
Katelyn Hansen
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Favorite native plant/animal: Goldenrod
University: University of Omaha Nebraska
Major(s): Environmental Science
“I am most looking forward to getting hands on experience and learning from professionals in conservation this summer.”
Central Iowa Land Stewardship Interns
Carl Becicka
Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Hepatica, prairie skink
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Animal Ecology, environmental science
“I’m excited to learn about different conservation management tactics and getting experience with them, along with learning more native plant and animal species such as prairie violet.”
Abby Hackenmiller
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Favorite native plant/animal: Jack-in-the-pulpit
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Environmental Science
Minor(s): Psychology
“I am most excited about being in nature and learning more about restoring and managing land, water, and wildlife from an insider perspective. I am also looking forward to strengthening my knowledge on Iowa’s native prairie plants.”
Josie Hutchings
Hometown: Pleasantville IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Indigo Bunting
University: University of Northern Iowa
Major(s): Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology
Minor(s): Earth Science
“I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge on habitat restoration, seeing new areas in Iowa, and improving the quality of local ecosystems.”
Kayla Lindquist
Hometown: Pecatonica, IL
Favorite native plant/animal: Blue-eyed grass
University: Central College
Major(s): Environmental Science
“I am most excited about seeing some more of Iowa’s hidden gems and getting to help maintain and restore the much needed ecosystems and biodiversity in the state.”
Claira Miller
Hometown: Colo, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Prairie rose
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Animal Science
Minor(s): Agronomy
“I am excited about all the different prairies we will work in, gaining hands-on experience in these environments, as well as working alongside the crew and getting to know new people excited about conservation.”
Jake Rosenow
Hometown: Waukee, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Meadow Lark
University: Central College
Major(s): Environmental Science
Minor(s): Biology
“I am very excited to work on land management projects and make a positive impact on native ecosystems. I also am committed on enhancing my plant identification and learning more about different positions in the conservation field.”
Eastern Iowa Land Stewardship Interns
Kenzie Donovan
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Monarch butterfly
University: University of Iowa
Major(s): Sustainability Science
Minor(s): Environmental Science
“I am most excited to meet people that have similar interests as me and get to know the other interns. I am also really excited to learn all about Iowa’s native plants and landscapes and get a better handle on plant IDs.”
Liam Edberg
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Wild plum
University: Luther College
Major(s): Environmental Studies
Minor(s): Music
“I’m excited to learn about careers in conservation/land stewardship, learn more native flowers and be outside!”
Maeve Reynen
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Foxglove beardtongue
University: University of Iowa
Major(s): Sustainable Development
“I’m looking forward to getting to see how the prairie changes throughout the summer, and learning how to ID plants!”
Blufflands Land Stewardship Interns
Kale Folkerts
Hometown: Allison, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: American Goldfinch, spiderwort
University: Wartburg College
Major(s): Environmental Studies
“I’m excited to learn as much as I can about the environment and how I can better it. It’s fun to be outside and taking care of the environment in return for everything it does for us, so why not learn about it at the same time?”
Owen Matzek
Hometown: Hastings, MN
Favorite native plant/animal: Brook trout
University: Luther College
Major(s): Environmental Science
Minor(s): Biology, Spanish
“I am most excited to learn how to safely down large trees using a chainsaw.”
Luke Morarend
Hometown: Asbury, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Chinkapin oak
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Forestry
Minor(s): Geographic Information Systems
“I am most looking forward to meeting and networking with different people throughout the state. I am also excited to expand my knowledge of forestry and conservation in Iowa.”
Ele Sheets
Hometown: Liscomb, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: American robin, wild bergamot
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Animal Ecology
“I’m looking forward to learning more about plant identification and expanding my lifelist.”
Ethan Stockwell
Hometown: Norwalk, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Brook trout
University: Wartburg College
Major(s): Environmental Science
Minor(s): Sociology
“I am looking forward to restoring native ecosystems back to their original state.”
Tyler Wilwert
Hometown: North Buena Vista, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Bottled genetian
University: Upper Iowa University
Major(s): Conservation Management
Minor(s): Coaching certificate
“What I look forward to the most is the crew’s impact on the land as the year goes by. I also hope to see the effects on some of these properties next year.”
Office Interns
Jordan McDowell, Graphic Design Intern
Hometown: Boone, IA
Favorite native plant/animal: Purple coneflower
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Graphic Design
Minor: Entrepreneurship
“I’m excited to create fun and innovative designs that will be used by INHF and partners for years to come while experiencing and learning about the beautiful parts of Iowa that I haven’t yet explored!”
Zoe Stonetree, Conservation Programs Intern
Hometown: Dedham, ME
Favorite native plant/animal: Mountain mint
University: Iowa State University
Major(s): Creative Writing and Environment (master’s program)
“I’m excited to bring my background in writing and my interest in conservation to grant writing projects this summer! I also look forward to learning more about Iowa’s landscapes and communities through research in the office and visiting new-to-me parts of the state.”
Clara Wodny, Communications Intern
Hometown: Duluth, MN
Favorite native plant/animal: Painted turtle
University: Luther College
Major(s): English; Visual Communications
“I am looking forward to expanding my writing/communication skills while helping promote a very important organization and learning a lot about conservation and environmental concerns! I am thrilled to be able to put my experience and skillset to use for a cause I really believe in that makes a huge positive impact on my communities.”