2025-2026_MATES_Leaders

2025 - 2026 MATES Project Terrapin Leaders

Overall, Publicity and Outreach Division

Chloe Wnek '26

Overall Coordinator

Chloe has been involved in Project Terrapin serving as a Hatchling Coordinator and helping with all aspects of Project Terrapin. She is student researcher who serves as a Research Assistance and Development Coordinator to mentor other students. Chloe serves on the Project Terrapin LLC advisory board and coordinates the MATES Chapter of Project Terrapin.

Zach Ciappa '26

Social Media/Publicity Specialist

Zach has been an active member of Project Terrapin the past three years. He has participated in numerous activities Zach is a student researcher who will carry out our message about terrapin conservation and awareness.

Kellyn Miller '27

Social Media/Publicity Specialist

Kellyn has been involved in Project Terrapin the past two years serving as a volunteer for Events and the hatchling release. Working with Zach, she will be an important part of our 2026 media team.

Kyle Wlazlowski '26

Outreach Leader

Kyle has been involved in Project Terrapin events and outreach programs. He will be instrumental in our Winter Outreach program and volunteers for numerous activities at MATES, and conducts student research. He is a Research Assistance and Development leader.

Kathy Garcia-Valente '26

Outreach Assistant

Kathy has been involved in Project Terrapin the past two years serving as an Outreach instructor and helping with events at Island Beach State Park and our Winter Outreach Program. She will be an integral part of our 2026 Winter Outreach Program.

Ava Tarditi '27

Outreach Assistant

Ava has been involved in Project Terrapin the past three years serving as an Outreach Instructor and helping at numerous events. She is a student researcher who is involved in numerous aspects of MATES.

Care Division

Aden Rella '26

Care Coordinator

Aden has been involved in many aspects of MATES Project Terrapin the past couple years and has been an excellent care member. Aden is a student researcher who is also involved in MATES Student Council and the NOAA grant to recover derelict crab pots from Barnegat Bay.

Emma Keklak '27

Care Leader

Emma has been involved with turtle care at MATES throughout her three year to date. She is also involved in outreach programs and has been a part of numerous events. Emma is overseeing care of turtles in room 114 this year.

Alexandra Kanterezhi-Gatto '28

Care Leader

Alex has been a part of our care program and Project Terrapin the past two years. Alex has volunteered for numerous activities and is involved in many aspects at MATES. She is a student researcher and oversees care in room 114.

Boden Wood '27

Care Leader

Boden has been an active part of the Project Terrapin Care program for the past three years. He brings a lot of experience to the care program and is involved in other aspects of Project Terrapin. Boden is overseeing care in room 158.

Tia Thomas '28

Care Leader

Tia has been an active member of Project Terrapin Care for the past two years. Her dedicated and commitment earned her a leadership position. Tia has been involved in other aspects of MATES and Project Terrapin. She is a student researcher.

Katie Ho '26

Care Feeding/Supply Coordinator

Katie is in her third year at MATES and is instrumental in organizing the necessary care items for all of our turtles, including their daily diets. Katie is a student researcher and involved in numerous aspects of MATES.

Kayla Meyer '28

Assistant Care Feeding Coordinator

Kayla is in her second year at MATES and has been an instrumental member in hatchling care in her first year at MATES. She will be assisting with the care and diet plan for our turtles throughout the school. She will be providing better feeding opportunities for our turtles.

Hatchling Division

Jayden Garofalo '26

Overall Hatchling Coordinator

Jayden worked with hatchling care throughout his years at MATES and coordinates the ambassador program with our head start schools. Jayden is organized and is a dedicated leader for our growing hatchlings program that will be responsible for over 30 hatchlings at MATES. He is part of the NOAA/Stockton derelict crab pot recovery team at MATES.

Micaela Marrinhas '26

Hatchling Care Leader

Micaela has been involved in Project Terrapin the past three years and served as a hatchling care leader her Junior year. Micaela is a consistent care provider who will help us to develop a more comprehensive care program this year. She is also involved in student research.

Kaitlyn Weitzell-Sanchez '27

Hatchling Care Leader

Kaitlyn has been active in Project Terrapin working with our hatchlings the past few years at MATES. She will continue to help improve our hatchling head start program. Kaitlyn is a student researcher at MATES with a focus on the environment.

Arushi Sood '27

Hatchling Head Start Leader

Arushi has been active in Project Terrapin since she entered MATES two years ago. She served as a summer research intern working with terrapins at Cedar Run as part of our mark-recapture team in 2024. Arushi is a student researcher who will help coordinate or school ambassador program.

Reese Larew '28

Hatchling Care Assistant

Reese has been involved in Project Terrapin hatchling care the past two years. She will be working with expanding our hatchling head start care program by providing the best possible care for our diamondback terrapins at MATES.

Owen Soheily '28

Hatchling Head Start Assistant

Owen has been involved in Project Terrapin hatchling care the past two years. He will be working with expanding our hatchling head start ambassador program and providing the best possible care for our diamondback terrapins at MATES.

Events Division

Lillian Boyd '26

Events Coordinator

Lilly is in her senior year and has been active in Project Terrapin Events and Outreach. She will coordinate events and getting MATES involved in spreading terrapin awareness. Lilly is Senior Class President and student researcher at MATES.

Isabella Morgan '26

Events Coordinator

Isabella is in her fourth year with Project Terrapin and has volunteered at numerous events. She served as an Event Assistant Leader last year. Isabella conducts independent research and is active in numerous school activities, including the MATES Envirothon Team.

Violet Fischer '26

Events Leader

Violet is in her senior year and has been active in Project Terrapin Outreach for the past few years. She will use her outreach skills to help with our many events and getting MATES involved in spreading terrapin awareness. Violet is a student researcher at MATES.

Julia Reid '26

Events Leader

Julia is in her senior year and has been active in Project Terrapin in the care of terrapins. She has served as a summer care person for our adult female terrapins. She will work with the Events team to continue to get out our Project Terrapin messaging.

Conservation Division

Finn Ecke '26

Conservation Coordinator

Finn is a Senior at MATES who has been active in all aspects of Project Terrapin. Finn served as a Project Terrapin summer intern, assisting with terrapin research at Cedar Run. Finn is also involved in student research and has been part of the NOAA/Stockton marine debris team.

Lily Nadler '26

Conservation Coordinator

Lily has been an active part of Project Terrapin throughout her time at MATES. She has volunteered at numerous events. In 2024, Lily was a Summer Intern working on our Cedar Run terrapin project. Lily is a student researcher who is active in all aspects of MATES and is instrumental in organizing conservation activities.

Rhea Dudhwala '27

Conservation Leader

Rhea has been an active Project Terrapin Conservation branch member since her first year at MATES. She is also involved in student government and is a student researcher studying. Rhea was a Project Terrapin Summer Intern this past year as a part of our Terrapin Tuesday Team.

Isabel Kopsaftis '27

Conservation Leader

Isabel (Izzy) is a Junior at MATES who has been active in all aspects of Project Terrapin. Izzy served as a Project Terrapin summer intern the past two years, assisting with terrapin research at Cedar Run. She is a student researcher and instrumental in our Terrapin Tuesday Outreach Program at Long Beach Island.

Isabella Sadsad '27

Assistant Conservation Leader

Isabella is a Junior at MATES who has been a Project Terrapin summer intern assisting with terrapin research at Cedar Run. She is a student researcher and instrumental in our school's Mock Trial Team.

Grace Ostapovich '28

Assistant Conservation Leader

Grace is a Sophomore at MATES who has been a a dedicated Project Terrapin care member and has been involved in conservation initiatives. She will be a working on more activities to get students involved in Project Terrapin.