Maria is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Marine Science at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Through UH Hilo’s diving program, she earned her Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, and Divemaster certifications, gaining extensive experience in underwater fieldwork. She aims to become a scientific diver, combining her diving expertise with marine science. Aspiring to become a coral reef conservationist, her research project focuses on the effects of marine heatwaves on coral skeletal density in Hilo, Hawai’i. The WDHOF Undergraduate Marine Conservation Scholarship will help contribute to conservation efforts through research and restoration initiatives.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍