High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

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Course Code

BSC

Course Number

4310

Faculty/Instructor

Dr. Linda Walters

Faculty/Instructor Email

Linda.Walters@ucf.edu

About the Author

I am Antonia Ferguson marine biology undergraduate at UCF. I would like to thank Renee Johnston for organizing UCF STEM Day and allowing me to teach elementary school students about oyster restoration. Thankyou to my STEM Dayu co-leaders Cori and Chris whose ideas and communication made our time brainstorming fun and memorable. Thankyou to Dr. Linda Walters for supplying us with oyster shells and aiding in the success of our STEM Day session.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

Through Service Learning: Marine Conservation and Restoration, I was a co-leader for UCF STEM Day under the theme “Oyster City Safari.” Our team designed interactive games and crafts to teach two groups of 25 elementary students about oyster reef restoration. Students acted as oysters and reef animals, transforming fragmented reefs into whole ones to demonstrate how restored reefs support biodiversity. They also played a species-matching game and created oyster shell necklaces and crowns. These activities encouraged them to see the value of oyster reefs and inspired future stewardship of the environment. I also contributed to seagrass restoration by assisting Coastal Estuarine and Ecology Lab (CEELab) Master’s student Luciana Banquero and Brevard Zoo.I gained field experience by annotating seagrass cover and percentages. I supported her project while learning how seagrass meadows provide vital habitat for marine life. These experiences strengthened my communication, leadership, and restoration skills which strengthened my passion for conservation and ecological education.

Keywords

oyster restoration, UCF STEM Day, elementary school, seagrass restoration

The World Is My Oyster: Restoring Nature, Inspiring Minds


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