Emma Walker

EMMA WALKER
Intern
Emma Walker is a Junior at Hanover Public High School, where she plays the violin in three ensembles and is the current Treasurer for Key Club. Outside school, she loves to play with her dogs, read poetry books, listen to music, and spend time with friends and family. Science, animals, and music are the passions she loves with all her heart. She lives in Pennsylvania, close to the historic city of Gettysburg. Emma participated in WYSE during the summer of 2022 and is elated to return as an intern!
PAIGE DUNMIRE
Paige Dunmire is from Georgia and is a junior at Alpharetta High School. Paige is a cross country and track runner, captain of the dive team, and a member of student council and the National Honor Society. In the summer, Paige enjoys coaching young divers at her neighborhood pool, and during the year, she enjoys reading, baking, art, and spending time with friends and family. Paige was a delegate at WYSE in 2022 and is so excited to return as an intern for WYSE 2023!
JULIA RENNELS
Julia Rennels is a senior at Wimberley High School, in Wimberley Texas. She is active in many activities and organizations, including National Honor Society, a four year member of her varsity cross country and track team, equestrian sports, and Freedom Canines International where she assists in training future service animals. Outside of school, she spends her time caring for her menagerie of pets. Her favorite hobby is creating habitats for hermit crabs, fire bellied toads, and bearded dragons. She also owns and operates a successful pet sitting business. Julia thoroughly enjoyed her time at WYSE last summer and solidified her plans to study Biology or Environmental Science in college. Her most memorable experience was the trip to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. She is exited to be returning to WYSE as an intern for 2023!
HANNA LEITENBERGER
Hanna is a junior at Bishop Mccort Catholic High School in midwestern Pennsylvania They are the theatre tech director, plays in the concert and marching band, and are a member of the PJAS team. They are also part of the Genesis/Ecology Club. They like reading, drawing, playing games, and hanging out with friends. They attended WYSE in 2022 and are very excited about the opportunity to be a youth advisory board member!
RAFAEL SUANES
A professional photographer with over 25 years of experience, Rafael has covered a huge gamut of events in the DC area. Ranging from private events of all sizes to Supreme Court nomination hearings, Rafael has covered it all. Specializing in college and professional sports, Rafael is currently the staff athletics photographer for both George Mason and Georgetown universities and has worked directly with every professional sports team in Washington, DC.
KASI BUMGARNER
Kasi Bumgarner is a video producer and content creator based in the Washington DC area. Prior to starting her business, she worked as a Digital Producer at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). At NED, she created a variety of digital content to highlight events and capture stories of the organization’s grantees and fellows who advocate for democracy and human rights around the world.
Kasi’s love for storytelling and digital media began at a young age, but it wasn’t until she attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) that she realized she could turn her passion into a career. She has loved being a part of the WJMC family ever since, returning as a junior faculty advisor, speaker, and videographer.
Kasi received her bachelor’s degree in Film and Video Studies from George Mason University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, exploring new spots in the DC area, and producing content for her lifestyle YouTube channel, Curlyhairlove, and her podcast, Side Hustle Generation.
ZOE PITMAN
Zoe Pitman is a rising senior at the University of Arkansas pursuing an Earth Science degree with a minor in Sustainability. She attended WYSE in 2018 as a delegate and is excited to be back as a JFA! Zoe is an active member and officer of a student organization at her university called Students Advocating for the Environment, and she dedicates a lot of time to helping University students learn how to live more sustainably. Her hobbies include hiking, rock climbing, baking, and reading.
EVELYN APONTE
Evelyn Aponte recently graduated from the College of William and Mary with a B.A. in History and Hispanic Studies. After an internship with the nonprofit organization Edu-Futuro, where she developed and delivered a Social Emotional Learning program, she is looking forward to working with faculty and students. Evelyn is actively searching for her first professional career, and in her free time you can find her doing Zumba and lifeguarding!
LIZ YE
Liz Ye (she/her) just finished her first year at the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT. She is majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Law and Society. She loves to run, hike, and explore the outdoors. Liz loves studying species of trees as well as learning about invasive species!
MEGHAN STEVENS
Meghan Stevens is a rising junior at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She is double majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies. She also plays volleyball at school and is involved in several extracurriculars including the Student Athlete Advisory Council and the Sustainability Club. Meghan hopes to spend her life advocating for the environment and helping future generations have a chance to feel the same strong connection that she feels to the outdoors.