Lane McCarthy '27 was resides in Melrose, Massachusetts. Currently enrolled at St. Lawrence University, Lane is studying Digital Media with a minor in Studio Art. A longtime interest in visual storytelling and design has shaped both academic and creative pursuits.
Ryley Spilman '27 is a creative writing and environmental studies double major from Fulton, New York. She is interested in the exploration of environmental themes in literature and integrating these themes in her own fictional work. She is passionate about long-form fiction, particularly in the genre of magical realism but also enjoys non-fiction and lyric essay writing. In her free time she enjoys reading, cooking, spending time outdoors, and yoga.
Lauren Trexler is a senior from Baltimore, MD. She is an aspiring conservation biologist who hopes to pursue a career that allows her to work with communities to restore and protect native biodiversity. While she cares deeply for all of the natural world, her experiences have guided her towards focusing on avian conservation. She plans to complete a graduate program after gaining more experience in the conservation field.
My name is Maia and I am from Monkton, Vermont! I am studying English creative writing, and studio art at St. Lawrence University. I am interested in pursuing a career that can combine my love for both writing and art!
Peyton Robbins drone footage.
Water chestnut invasion at Lisbon Creek off of the Oswegatchie River in Heuvelton, NY.
Peyton Robbins drone footage.
Close up of a mat of water chestnut growing on the Oswegatchie River, Heuvelton, NY.
Peyton Robbins '26 is a SLU student majoring in Conservation Biology and minoring in Art and Art History along with Chemistry. As with the major, Peyton enjoys being outdoors and is fascinated with the various biological studies pertaining to it. He also likes drawing, painting, and isn't afraid of lab work. In the Summer of 2025 he did a research project on the effects of invasive water chestnut (Trapa natans) on on fish, plants, invertebrates, and overall water quality in the Oswegatchie River at Heuvelton, Black Lake, and the St. Lawrence River.
Lindsay McTague ('26) is a geology major with an art and art history minor from Juneau, Alaska. One of her primary areas of interest is how climate dynamics impact geology over time and what that can tell us about mitigating future climate change. This focus on climate and response is influenced by her time in Alaska, as she has seen change happening firsthand. When she is not studying geology (or art and art history), she is likely to be found rowing on the St. Lawrence River with the women’s crew team or out on the trails around campus.
Growing up I always had a love for nature, and spent much of my time as a kid playing outside. Ever since I was young, I’ve had a particularly affinity for the less appreciated creatures of the world: bugs, toads, snakes, etc. It was always my goal to convince those around me that these animals were to be admired, not feared. It’s a goal I still hold onto today, and strive to achieve through education and exposure.
In school I’ve always gravitated towards science and art, gaining experience with scientific research through St. Lawrence University.
Abby is part of the class of '23 at St. Lawrence University. She is a captain of club rugby, the president of the scuba diving club, and a lover of the outdoors. She wanted to be working in the outdoors no matter what she did beyond school, so she took a focus in archaeology. She hopes to combine her love for archaeology and scuba diving in the future, studying marine archaeology and or doing marine preservation in any way. Taking care of nature and the creatures in it, is a high priority in Abby's interests and will be the direction she plans on going in the future.
In the Spring of 2017, while studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, I was given the opportunity to embark on a culinary tour of Italy. My Enrichment Grant made it possible for me to see both Rome and Florence, Italy, while experiencing incredible Mediterranean cuisine every step of the way. I originally applied for such a grant because Italy is a cultural and culinary epicenter, and I didn’t feel my time abroad would be complete without experiencing it!
Min Wang'21 is a history major and a minor in Art and Art history. She began this project out of interest in how the news media in China reported on protests in Hong Kong in 2019. During the study, she was inspired by life stories of Hong Kong based journalists and short documentaries made by global correspondents. These stories triggered her interest in journalism as a possible career pursuit.
