Vernal Pool Reserve Team for 2014 Spring

Daniel Toews, Project Manager

As a fourth-generation scrap metal recycler I was predestined to work in the industry. When I turned 17, I left the family business, Atwater Iron & Metal, moved to Oakland, and started working for Schnitzer Steel Industries Incorporated, a global metals recycler. Within a few years, Schnitzer promoted me to supervisor of a non-ferrous metals department in Fresno. Realizing that the scrap industry was primarily composed of businessmen concerned with making a profit, all too often at the expense of the environment, I left Schnitzer to pursue my education. I am now a senior majoring in Earth systems science at UC Merced. Other than my complete amazement at the vernal pools and ecology involved, I chose the Vernal Pools Reserve project because it is focused on educating the community about the fragility and delicacy of the environment and will help me bring change, or at least some education to the industry.

Stephani Gimble, Assitant Project Manager 

I chose this team because it's a great way to make a difference in increasing environmental awareness and preserving the vernal pools. I look forward to learning more about the science of the pools and engineering interesting ways to explore them.

Adam Mansour, Inventory and Procurement Officer

During the process of choosing what team I wanted to join, the reserve struck the most interest in me. I have a growing passion for sustaining the environment and I felt I could use this opportunity to learn more about it. My current internship with the PowerSave Campus program has instilled in me skills that a treasurer should have. I feel I can be an important asset on this team in budget/inventory control.

Lauren Garcia, Communications Officer

The main reason I chose to be part of the Vernal Pool Reserve team is because it is brand new, and I will be a founding member of the project and help build the team from the ground floor. I also have a love for wetland environments, and being as the vernal pools of California are all but gone, being part of the protection of such a special ecosystem, and educating the public on what this special place is and what we can do to help it, is a privilege.

Mark Reynolds, Webmaster

I chose to be a part of the Vernal Pool Reserve (VPR) team because although many of the other Engineering Service Learning teams are also working on cutting-edge design and innovation, the VPR team has a special attraction to it. Not only is it an opportunity to shed light on an area of the UC Merced campus that not many are familiar with, but its timely acceptance into the UC Natural Reserve System makes being part of the project much more exciting. I thoroughly enjoy helping teach those who want to learn about relevant information that has the potential to make an impact. Therefore, I couldn’t be more delighted to be a part of such a goal-oriented team.

Maria Martinez, Design and Planning Sub-Team Leader

Since attending school at UC Merced, I have found great joy in the outdoors. Here I have discovered the Yosemite Leadership Program and become more aware about the environment and what surrounds me. I chose VPR because I want to learn more about what surrounds our campus. Throughout my years as a student here, I have heard about vernal pools but have not researched what they are and why the land behind the campus is so unique. With this team I hope to strengthen my communications skills, learn more about vernal pools and strengthen my GIS skills.

Brandon Tran, Species Specialist 

I have been to the reserve and conducted research there a number of times since last spring. I am familiar with the majority of the area and the number of different kinds of critters that live out there. Also, I am currently in the Student Naturalist Program, in which reserve Director Chris Swarth trains students to become naturalists, allowing us to give tours of the reserve to students and the public, and educate people about the animals that live there. I am an avid educator and I am passionate in teaching people about animals. I am eager to challenge my skills and pursue my goal to become an educator. Being a part of this team can test my capacity as both an educator and a leader.

Adrian Reyes, Team Member

My hometown is Hanford. I have always had an appreciation for nature. When I came to UC Merced, I was excited at how close Yosemite National Park is to our campus. It meant that it was more accessible to me. However, at first I thought the campus was in the middle of nothing but tall grass and cows -- until I learned about the protected lands near campus hat houses all these different species of organisms. That's when I became interested in the land surrounding our school, and that's why I decided to join the Vernal Pool Reserve team when I was given the chance. It will further my appreciation for nature and at the same time help me gain valuable skills to use inside and outside the classroom.

Amy Hang, Team Member

As part of the Concepts & Exhibits subteam, I help produce fliers and brochures and help think of exhibits for the planned reserve visitor center. When I thought about long-term project ideas, I came up with touring vernal pools; assembling different forms of art inspired by vernal pools and made by community members; and hosting a vernal-pool-themed science fair. All my ideas had a few things in common; they increased knowledge, awareness and appreciation of vernal pools, targeted the community and sparked interest in science. I'll be a great addition to the team because I am a creative and conscientious thinker - creative because I think outside the box and conscientious because I keep purpose and audience in mind. With these soft skills, I can come up with amazing exhibit ideas that cater to the general community. I also have experience in producing fliers and brochures. Furthermore, I am bilingual in English and Hmong. So I can help my subteam and other subteams when needed.

Daniel Oh, Team Member

I joined this team because I am very interested in design and learning how the process works. This will help develop skills for my capstone engineering project. I am creative and artistic, so hopefully those skills would translate into helping the team design these signs for the project.

Jake Egger, Team Member

As a member of the Outreach subteam, my role includes helping with website content, creating an outreach and fundraising plan for the campus and local community and creating a logo design. The goal of the Outreach subteam is to get people interested in the reserve so they will want to contribute. I joined this team because of my interest in wildlife and nature reserves. I have had some experience working on a team project that involved creating and marketing a product. Specifically, in my high school Design and Implementation course, my team designed a game for children with cerebral palsy that we were required to “sell” to our audience of parents. The parents critiqued our product and marketing pitch, and the teacher shared the feedback with us as a team and individually. I also served as team member and team leader on other projects in my other design course in high school, so I have an understanding of project planning and timelines. 

Jose Hernandez-Cruz, Jr., Team Member

I am originally from Ontario, from a traditionally Mexican family of six children, and I am the oldest. I am pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering because I am always learning. I am absolutely in love with creating new things and with innovation technology. One day I wish to hold a project engineer position at a very successful company. Energy transfer and design is my main focus. I wish to one day establish several businesses, and have a life where money is not the problem.