I applied and found out two weeks later I had won. “She let me know that there was one more scholarship I could apply for, one that would cover the remainder of the money I would owe. The next day I got a call from my admissions counselor wanting to discuss my choice, and I explained my strife to her. Even with these, it did not feel possible for me to go to OWU. “The day I got my acceptance letter, I was so grateful to also find that I had received an institutional grant as well as the Branch Rickey Scholarship. I had the drive, the grades, but not the money, so I applied to every scholarship available from OWU. Being a first-generation college student, I knew that the odds weren’t in my favor when it came to going to college. “OWU really stood out to me for not only the beauty of the campus and the rigor of the programs but also the many opportunities for scholarships. He is definitely a role model for me, and I hope one day to be in his position helping out fellow OWU students, too!” Why I Chose Ohio Wesleyan
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He actually helped me pick my research question and gave me some helpful tips on how to get into his field. I think we talked for two hours one day just about how incredible they are. He has been amazing and knows so much about the harbor seals. “And Shane is so passionate about the animals. She is truly a hidden gem at OWU and an amazing professor and person. She has helped me by answering my constant questions, improving my scientific writing skills, and keeping me motivated along the way. Hankison has been working on this with me and, even though I was only a sophomore, she let me know of this opportunity that usually only seniors get. I also know that this research will be great for my future endeavors, not only for what I learned but for the connections I am making by going to the zoo constantly, talking to the staff and volunteers, and, of course, working with Shane.” My Mentors “I think it is so cool the way we can reflect classroom learning to the real world. Just by observing the animal, you can see how the species has evolved over time to best fit its intended environment. “Throughout my research, I have been able to tie back so many observations to lectures learned in my evolution class (ZOOL 261). The same love that led me to college and, I hope, to veterinary school 18+ years later.” Lessons Learned I looked at her and the smile on her face, and I remembered being young and having that same love for animals. “As I was standing there, a little girl ran up beside me with her mom and pointed in awe as these amazing animals swam upside down and all around. I went into Adventure Cove, and I was captivated by the 360-degree viewing tunnel and the way the harbor seals soared through the water. Hankison on this research so it was a whole new world to me. I had never even visited the Columbus Zoo before working with Dr.
“My favorite memory was my first visit at Adventure Cove. (Photo courtesy of Reagan Jennings) My Favorite Moment (So Far) Both the seals in captivity and the seals in the wild seem to be exhibiting the same behaviors, which tells me that the Columbus Zoo is doing a good job of enriching and caring for the animals.” Reagan Jennings ’23 is studying the behavior of harbor seals at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
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I have also found them to be solitary creatures as we have not had one sighting of a pair of free harbor seals since this research began. “So far I have determined that harbor seals are just as fascinated by humans in the wild as they are in captivity. “Are they social in the wild? Do they interact with people like they do in captivity? Are they mostly found alone or do they travel in groups? “I am really trying to see if the social behavior of harbor seals is the same in captivity as in the wild,” Jennings said. Jennings earned an OWU Connection small grant to support her experience. At Ohio Wesleyan, Gorbett was a Pre-Professional Zoology and Spanish double major.
At the zoo, Jennings is being supervised by Shane Gorbett ’15, now part of the zoo’s pinniped team (seals, sea lions, and walruses). Jennings is being mentored at Ohio Wesleyan by Shala Hankison, Ph.D., associate professor of Zoology and a 1995 OWU alumna. The diving crew, called “The SpongeBob Crew,” and a few other independent divers have been monitoring harbor seal encounters in the Puget Sound. Reagan Jennings ’23 is spending the semester researching the social behavior of harbor seals at the Columbus Zoo and comparing their behaviors with behaviors documented in the wild by a team of divers from Washington State. OWU Connection Experience: Independent Research at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Minors: Environmental Science and Chemistry Majors: Pre-Professional Zoology and Biology Sealing Her Future Ohio Wesleyan Student Completes Research at Columbus Zoo, Plans to Attend Veterinary School
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