Before college, Cody Natoni Sifford, Navajo, had never considered a degree — not to mention a career — in environmental science. It was actually his family who encouraged him to try out the environmental science program in college. Then from the moment he set foot in his first class, he knew he had made the right decision.

Growing up near the ocean mostly in Vallejo, Calif., Amber Finley was fascinated by aquatic life. That love for the sea quickly transformed into a passion for STEM. As early as junior high, math and science became Finley’s focus at school — and her curiosity about biology was strongly encouraged by the adults around her.

“I had many teachers who supported my interest in math and science,” she says. “And my parents always wanted me to do well and supported my academic endeavors.”

During her senior year as an undergraduate at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SDSM&T), a spark ignited for Kimberlynn Dawn Cameron. “A class in sustainable engineering showed me where I wanted to go with my career,” she says. “Now I’m a graduate student enrolled in a dual master’s program at SDSM&T. Starting in January 2018, I’ll be attending Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability in the Executive Master for Sustainability Leadership program.”

Growing up in Rough Rock, Ariz., Nizhoni Tallas, Navajo, spent a great deal of time exploring the outdoors. It was there, in her rural community, where she first became interested in the field of environmental science. “My brothers and I would hike the mesa and the canyon right in our backyard,” says Tallas. “I fell in love with the diversity of plants, rocks, and the smell of fresh air. From that point on, I knew I wanted to learn more about the environment and how I can protect it now and for future generations.”

The heart of Jeff Gregg’s work is vigilance. As a hazardous waste coordinator at the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Honolulu, he spends his days protecting water. Or as Gregg puts it, “We keep the black stuff out of the blue stuff.”

For as long as he can remember, the “blue stuff” has been a passion. “There was always something about the water, especially the ocean,” he says. “As a young boy, I discovered Jacques Cousteau and would watch the episodes over and over. I wanted to be Jacques Cousteau.”