Member Spotlight: Nick Bartkowiak, Mobile Baykeeper AmeriCorps Program Member

Meet Nick Bartkowiak, SWIM Sampler and Lab Technician, currently serving with the Mobile Baykeeper organization, in the Mobile Baykeeper AmeriCorps program.

1. What motivated you to join AmeriCorps? I was motivated to join AmeriCorps because I wanted to find an internship where I felt like I was making a difference every day I showed up to work. AmeriCorps provided me just that opportunity.

2. What would you like to get out of this service opportunity? I applied for Mobile Baykeeper specifically because it provided me the opportunity to get both science experience in the field as well as in the lab. As stated before, I also wanted an internship that made me feel like I was making a difference daily.

3. What will your service focus on for the 2019-20 program year? During this program year, my service will focus on heading the SWIM sampling as well as lab maintenance. SWIM sampling seeks to inform the people surrounding the Mobile Bay of the safe and unsafe swimming locations by analyzing water samples seeking to find harmful bacteria.

4. What are your plans after AmeriCorps? Following AmeriCorps, I plan on continuing my education to complete my master’s degree. I am currently in my first year of graduate school at the University of South Alabama. I intend to use my education as well as experience gained with AmeriCorps to propel myself into a job working in the field of marine conservation.

Thank you for your service, Nick!