Barry University senior and Marine Biology major, Ainsley Vanderhyde spent her summer in Seattle, WA as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scholar, where she worked with the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) to model how oil might spread from several high-priority sunken wrecks off Louisiana’s coast.

Using NOAA’s powerful tools, the spill trajectory model GNOME and the statistical planner TAP, she simulated potential spill scenarios and analyzed their possible impact. She also refined the location coordinates of several wrecks and added new database categories.

Her findings provide critical insights for emergency response teams and local communities, ensuring they can respond faster and minimize environmental damage if a spill occurs.

The project drew from NOAA’s Remediation of Underwater Legacy Environmental Threats (RULET) database, which identifies wrecks that pose the highest risk of leaking pollutants. This internship brought Ainsley’s classroom learning to life, combining science, technology, and public service.

Ainsley credits Barry University with giving her the foundation to succeed at NOAA. The leadership programs, mentorship, and professional development opportunities she experienced on campus directly shaped the skills she relied on during her internship.

“My time at Barry University has prepared me in countless ways, both personally and professionally. Through the Emerging Leaders Program, I gained the confidence and skills to step into leadership roles, while serving as an Orientation Leader taught me how to connect with and support others in a meaningful way. Events such as the Women’s Leadership Summit and Career Fairs further strengthened my ability to network, communicate, and carry myself in professional settings. These opportunities have been instrumental in shaping the leader I am today, helping me land this internship.”

One of her most memorable parts of this experience was exploring Seattle’s unique natural environment, which was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. While discovering the city, she also had the chance to engage with NOAA employees, an opportunity that deepened her passion for marine science and policy. Networking with professionals gave her a clearer vision of the career paths ahead and reinforced the value of the leadership and communication skills she developed at Barry.

Barry University celebrates students like Ainsley who turn their education into career progression, protecting communities and ecosystems along the way. This commitment reflects Barry’s mission to graduate confident leaders who are ready to make an impact in their chosen fields. Ainsley’s journey is a powerful example of how hands-on learning opportunities help students step into competitive industries, contribute to important research, and shape solutions to real-world challenges.