For two years, Nova Southeastern University student Bianca Ruiz logged on remotely for a virtual internship with Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. When she finally had the chance to travel from her Miami home to meet the team she had only known as tiles on a computer screen, she quickly realized the tangible effect of her virtual assignment.
In the middle of a meeting at the sanctuary’s Key Largo office, Ruiz was unexpectedly awarded the organization’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award.
“When we got pulled into a morning meeting, I didn’t think much of it at first,” Ruiz said. “So it was a complete surprise when a slide popped up on the screen with a photo of me, announcing that I had been awarded Volunteer of the Year. I was completely shocked, especially since I hadn’t even known the award existed. My shock quickly turned into gratitude. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about volunteering here is the freedom I’ve had to shape and grow my projects.”
Ruiz joined the sanctuary in 2023, and during her virtual service, reviewed 50 papers related to human use and impacts in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). She later created a system to document the relevant findings of research publications on human dimensions of resource management, a framework for recording information from literature reviews that other virtual volunteers and interns still use.
In the second summer of her internship, Ruiz joined the Mission: Iconic Reefs team, where she conducted an in-depth literature review on sea snail predation across Caribbean coral reefs and then created a public-facing social math resource, translating complex metrics into relatable visuals and storytelling.
“I am incredibly proud to work alongside volunteers like Bianca who give their time to support our national marine sanctuaries,” said Lindsey Crews, FKNMS science and outreach coordinator. “Bianca is an incredibly hard worker, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to recognize her contributions.”
Ruiz is now in graduate school at NSU, pursuing a master’s degree in marine sciences, after which she hopes to apply her knowledge in science education within the national marine sanctuaries. Twenty-five of the publications she researched were related to understanding recreational boating impacts on coral and seagrass habitats.
“I am particularly interested in how anthropogenic activity can impact ecosystem dynamics and marine life in South Florida,” said Ruiz, “working alongside scientists and stakeholders to raise awareness of these impacts. Additionally, I hope to collaborate with anglers and divers to better understand how these ecosystems support their way of life and how they can play a role in restoration and conservation efforts within marine protected areas.”
The sanctuary has one full-time employee for every 105 square miles of protected water, so volunteers, including some who are certified as NOAA divers, play a vital role.
“Each year, I am humbled by how much value added our volunteers provide to the sanctuary to support the activity going on here,” said David Burke, acting superintendent. “It’s great to see they’re getting recognized at the national level for the efforts they put in.”
Volunteer opportunities remain, especially at the sanctuary’s Eco-Discovery Center in Key West. More information is available via email to elizabeth.trueblood@noaa.gov.
