When Anna Tripp graduated from Jacksonville University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in marine science and a minor in photography, the nation was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Struggling to find a full-time job after an unpaid internship at Mote Marine Laboratory, her college professor pointed her to the SCA, where she was hired in 2021 as a Fishery Technician Intern with the U.S. Forest Service in Sitka, Alaska.
“It wasn’t every day a girl from Florida got offered a job in Alaska to work with wild salmon. I just had to go,” Tripp exclaimed. “Alaska was incredibly far away, and I was moving out on my own. At first, it was scary. I had to carry a rifle and get used to a whole new environment. I love being outdoors, but that was out of my comfort zone.”
SCA Alum Anna Tripp taking a picture of a bear and an eagle during her Fishery Technician Internship in Sitka, Alaska. (Photo Credit: Eileen Henry)
With only 12 miles of paved road, she found herself fully immersed in Sitka’s small-town life. As one of two SCA fishery techs, she assisted with everything from salmon data collection to snorkeling regularly to inspect underwater equipment.
“While not having running water, cell phone service, or anyone but my field partner to talk to for days, I found so much peace in remote Alaska,” Tripp said. “I saw whales and otters and even got to go on a seaplane. It’s truly a special place, and I really miss it.”
In 2023, Tripp began an SCA Social Media Internship at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Virginia. Today, Tripp is a park ranger there, where she is a Visual Information Specialist managing the park’s social media content.
“The SCA and its supporters make dreams come true and made it a real possibility to have a career in conservation,” Tripp said. “These opportunities and memories last a lifetime. You will get to make a real difference.”
