BE ADVISED: On Saturday 9/20, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will host the USC vs. Michigan State football game. Kickoff is at 8 pm. This event will impact traffic, parking, and wayfinding in the area due to street closures. Please consider riding the Metro E (Expo) Line and exiting at USC/Expo station.

Marine Teens Internship

Two logos, Natural History Museum Los Angeles County in black letters against a white square and Marine Teens in white letters, against a blue background with sea creatures and people doing water activities

NHMLAC’s Education Outreach team launched the Marine Teens internship in 2019 thanks to the generosity of the Vera R. Campbell Foundation. 

Each year, Education Outreach recruits a cohort of ten high school juniors and seniors who attend school or live in Boyle Heights. The cohort includes eight first-year interns and two returning interns who step into a leadership role as Peer Mentors. As paid NHMLAC employees, the Marine Teens develop an interpretive marine science project and share it with Museum guests.

  • Program goals for the interns include to: 
    Gain exposure to museum research, collections, interpretation, program development, and facilitation;
  • Acquire critical knowledge and skills that will enhance their academic achievement and broaden their future career options and work preparedness;
  • Gain a greater understanding of their strengths, interests, and potential career paths;
  • Be empowered to go back to their communities and share their knowledge using the critical thinking and communication skills they have gained.
  • Additional goals for Peer Mentors include to: 
    Enhance understanding of the Museum’s role in the community through participation in NHM education outreach programs;
  • Acquire leadership skills by taking on responsibilities such as advising and collaborating with first-year interns.
     

Application Information

The 2025 Marine Teens Cohort

Two rows of students wearing the same blue t-shirt with orange fish, white octopus, and green turtle, outside against a green leafy background

Back row, left to right: Akeelah Percy, Eli Grijalva, Josue Rodriguez, Francisco Vaquero, Angel Quintero


Front row, left to right: Dalilah Canche, Yajaira Valverde, Scarlett Escobar, Mia Contreras, Gizelle Avila
 

Yajaira Valverde with pink hair and a blue t-shirt against a leafy, grassy blurred background

Yajaira Valverde (Peer Mentor)

 

Hello, my name is Yajaira Valverde. I am a recent graduate from MSTMA at Roosevelt High School. I am a rising freshman at Pitzer College, where I plan to study environmental science and political science. After college, I hope to become an urban planner.
 

Francisco Vaquero with black curly hair, wearing a blue t-shirt against a blurry, leafy green background

Francisco Vaquero (Peer Mentor)


Hello, my name is Francisco Vaquero and I am a recent grad from MSTMA and a rising freshman at UC San Diego, where I plan to study mechanical engineering. Some of my favorite hobbies are playing video games and sports such as basketball and football. This is my second year at Marine Teens now as a peer mentor where I have cultivated my love for marine science.
 

Gizelle Avila wearing glasses and a blue t-shirt against a blurred, leafy green background

Gizelle Avila
 

As a rising senior attending MSTMA at Roosevelt High School, I hope to attend a university where I gain hands-on experiences with any career path I choose. I plan to major in aerospace engineering or astronomy. I truly aspire to blend the studies of marine biology and space exploration.
 

Dalilah Canche wearing a blue t-shirt against a blurred, leafy green background

Dalilah Canche


My name is Dalilah Canche, I’m a rising senior at Roosevelt High School. Although our program is marine science-based, I plan to major in communications in college. I’m going to attend community college and then transfer to a Cal State to earn my bachelor’s degree. This internship has taught me a lot and I intend to carry it all with me into future job
 

Mia Contreras with long dark hair and wearing glasses and blue t-shirt against a blurred, leafy green background

Mia Contreras


I am Mia Contreras, a rising senior at Boyle Heights Hilda Solis. Originally I wanted to go into business and marketing, but participating in this internship has shown me other careers. I intend to go to a four-year university and would like to combine my interest in working with children and zoology. Watching NHM presenters has shown me that you can combine all your interests into one job, and it is always okay to change your mind along the way.
 

Scarlett Escobar wearing glasses, a silver necklace, and a blue t-shirt against a blurred, leafy green background

Scarlett Escobar


My name is Scarlett Escobar. I'm a recent graduate from the Math, Science, and Technology Magnet Academy and will be attending CSUMB in a month. I will be majoring in marine science. That is a big reason why I wanted to participate in this internship, which has helped me figure out what I want to do with my degree in the future. I hope to become a museum educator to inspire our young minds in the marine science field.
 

Eli Grijalva with dark curly hair wearing a blue t-shirt against a blurred, leafy green background

Eli Grijalva


Hi everyone! My name is Eli Grijalva, I’m a rising senior attending Mendez High School, and I have dreams of becoming a research scientist focusing on marine life. I love science and math, and I hope to attend college in California to pursue my love and wonder for the environment.
 

Akeelah Percy wearing a blue t-shirt against a blurred, leafy green background

Akeelah Percy

Angel Quintero wearing a blue t-shirt against a blurred, leafy green background

Angel Quintero


I am going into my senior year of high school at MSTMA. I would really like to study marine biology. I love being around an ocean environment and being around so many interesting species. There’s also so much more to learn and discover about the ocean which is something that motivates me to explore this pathway.
 

Josue Rodriguez wearing a blue t-shirt against a blurred, leafy green background

Josue Rodriguez


Hello, my name is Josue Rodriguez and I graduated from MSTMA at Roosevelt HS. I enjoy working and being with people. I will attend CSULB in the fall and will major in kinesiology. I hope to become a sports medicine physician in the future with hopes of helping people's quality of life improve.
 

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Back row, left to right: Akeelah Percy, Eli Grijalva, Josue Rodriguez, Francisco Vaquero, Angel Quintero


Front row, left to right: Dalilah Canche, Yajaira Valverde, Scarlett Escobar, Mia Contreras, Gizelle Avila
 

Yajaira Valverde (Peer Mentor)

 

Hello, my name is Yajaira Valverde. I am a recent graduate from MSTMA at Roosevelt High School. I am a rising freshman at Pitzer College, where I plan to study environmental science and political science. After college, I hope to become an urban planner.
 

Francisco Vaquero (Peer Mentor)


Hello, my name is Francisco Vaquero and I am a recent grad from MSTMA and a rising freshman at UC San Diego, where I plan to study mechanical engineering. Some of my favorite hobbies are playing video games and sports such as basketball and football. This is my second year at Marine Teens now as a peer mentor where I have cultivated my love for marine science.
 

Gizelle Avila
 

As a rising senior attending MSTMA at Roosevelt High School, I hope to attend a university where I gain hands-on experiences with any career path I choose. I plan to major in aerospace engineering or astronomy. I truly aspire to blend the studies of marine biology and space exploration.
 

Dalilah Canche


My name is Dalilah Canche, I’m a rising senior at Roosevelt High School. Although our program is marine science-based, I plan to major in communications in college. I’m going to attend community college and then transfer to a Cal State to earn my bachelor’s degree. This internship has taught me a lot and I intend to carry it all with me into future job
 

Mia Contreras


I am Mia Contreras, a rising senior at Boyle Heights Hilda Solis. Originally I wanted to go into business and marketing, but participating in this internship has shown me other careers. I intend to go to a four-year university and would like to combine my interest in working with children and zoology. Watching NHM presenters has shown me that you can combine all your interests into one job, and it is always okay to change your mind along the way.
 

Scarlett Escobar


My name is Scarlett Escobar. I'm a recent graduate from the Math, Science, and Technology Magnet Academy and will be attending CSUMB in a month. I will be majoring in marine science. That is a big reason why I wanted to participate in this internship, which has helped me figure out what I want to do with my degree in the future. I hope to become a museum educator to inspire our young minds in the marine science field.
 

Eli Grijalva


Hi everyone! My name is Eli Grijalva, I’m a rising senior attending Mendez High School, and I have dreams of becoming a research scientist focusing on marine life. I love science and math, and I hope to attend college in California to pursue my love and wonder for the environment.
 

Akeelah Percy

Angel Quintero


I am going into my senior year of high school at MSTMA. I would really like to study marine biology. I love being around an ocean environment and being around so many interesting species. There’s also so much more to learn and discover about the ocean which is something that motivates me to explore this pathway.
 

Josue Rodriguez


Hello, my name is Josue Rodriguez and I graduated from MSTMA at Roosevelt HS. I enjoy working and being with people. I will attend CSULB in the fall and will major in kinesiology. I hope to become a sports medicine physician in the future with hopes of helping people's quality of life improve.
 

Learn more about the Marine Teens program in the videos below:

Meet the 2024 Cohort

Meet the 2023 Cohort

Meet the 2022 Cohort

Job, Research and Internship Opportunities

For additional opportunities in marine biology, ecology, conservation, and informal education, check out this resource.*

*Please note that information regarding opportunities at other non-profit organizations is provided as a courtesy resource, not as an endorsement of any listed program.