Last month, we welcomed three Island School alumni, Madison Bartie S24, Camille Hacking S25, and Anna Cherepowich F24, back to campus for their Senior Research Project. After completing their preliminary readings and coursework, the group landed full of smiles and ready to dive into coral research alongside the Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub (BCIH) team at the Cape Eleuthera Institute.

After reconnecting with some familiar faces, the group was off to a week jam-packed with fieldwork. The week followed an immersive schedule with the alumni spending plenty of time in the water and in the classroom. They began by completing their PADI Advanced Open Water diver course, allowing them to refine their dive skills and become more competent divers.  They also completed the PADI Reef Rescue diver course, a course created by the Reef Rescue Network. Here, they received hands-on experience in our coral nurseries, where they helped with cleaning, maintenance, and fragmentation.  The experience provided the group with an understanding of the effort that goes into restoring our reefs and the importance of this work. 

After learning more about the coral restoration work being done in South Eleuthera by The BCIH, the students designed their research project with restoration in mind.  Their guiding question was, “Does coral restoration impact the abundance and diversity of fish species on the reef?”  Armed with their newfound knowledge of coral reefs and scientific diving skills, they set out to collect data. Video transects were collected from two sites, a restored site and one without. Following their dives, they went back to the classroom to analyze the data they collected.

In addition to their time in the field, the students also toured the land-based facilities at CEI, including the newly established Mobile Conch Lab, and had the opportunity to assist with our current coral husbandry work. 

To round out the week, the students participated in a Down Island Trip where they visited some of Eleuthera’s highlights, including the Cathedral Caves and the Glass Window Bridge. After a full week of learning, exploration, and reconnection, we sent our seniors back out into the world with a full new set of skills and new Island School memories. We wish all the participants the best of luck as they embark on their exciting journey of graduating high school and starting their new chapters this Summer and Fall! 

Following the week back on campus, Anna Cherepowich F24 shared a short reflection of Senior Research Week and how this experience will continue to stay with her as she heads to college in the fall. 

“As high school wraps up, I find myself really valuing the time I spend at my school. Because The Island School was such a big part of my high school experience and an incredibly influential part of my life, it was really special to be back there,” said Anna Cherepowich F24. “My time at my high school and my time at The Island School often feel very separate, so it was really amazing to get to return to Island School to perform research there as part of my senior project, my high school’s final graduation requirement. Ultimately, it created a meaningful bridge between the two schools that make up my high school career.” 

“In addition, being at CEI after I had made my college decision was an experience that I wasn’t anticipating. I felt so at home doing research once again at CEI, and knowing that the school I am attending in the fall (University of Miami) for Oceanography has such a great relationship with CEI made me extremely excited for what is to come in the future,” she said. “This time at The Island School gave me space for reflection on my high school career, while also generating an eager anticipation for my next journey. “