"I have come to Great Gull Island since I was a child and have always loved meeting people there... we all share our love of ornithology, field work, and simple living." During most summers, Vera spends a week on Great Gull, an island populated by 20,000 terns and with no running water or electricity, assisting with field research that has dramatically increased the populations of Common and Roseate Terns in the Western Hemisphere. While deferring her enrollment for a year, she conducted grant proposal research for coastal development and restoration projects as an intern with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. She then was the head animal caretaker at the Pacific Primate Sanctuary in Maui, Hawaii. Finally, this spring she attended the National Outdoor Leadership School semester in New Zealand. At the Riverdale Country School, she earned nine varsity letters in soccer, swimming, and lacrosse. While unsure of what she may choose to major in, Vera plans to continue her involvement in athletics and animal and environmental advocacy.