Ben Sciance, a returning senior at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA, thinks a lot of things about the hospital and the internship are “good,” even a 2:00 AM phone call to hurry to the beach to watch a huge mama turtle nesting.

Meghan Lobsinger was born in central Florida and raised in the Raleigh area for most of her life, but her experience with sea turtles spans the many years she spent vacationing at the family home on Serenity Point. While accompanying her Marine Quest charges on a field trip to the hospital Jean Beasley invited her to joint the intern program. Meghan returns this year to UNCW as a senior, with majors in Biology and Environmental Science. She is the Vice President of the International Student Volunteers program.

Intern Meghan Gahm, future oceanic researcher, is one of our two summer “Meghans.” Hailing from the frigid north, Strafford, NH she followed the sun to UNCW where she began her studies in Journalism. Somewhere along the line her interests, and the stark reality of limited employment opportunities, led her to Marine Biology.

Legendary Grand Ole Opry® star George Hamilton IV returns to the island on Tuesday, July 21 for a benefit concert, featuring his country and gospel music, for our hospital.

George Hamilton IV of the Grand Ole Opry, will perform a benefit concert for The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center July 21, 2009 at the Topsail Island Missiles & More Assembly Building in Topsail Beach, NC.

Caitlin Cavanaugh, A Pittsburgh native, was surrounded by “three rivers” while she was growing up but never quite satisfied her longing to live and work near the water. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Animal Science Caitlin made her move south, pursuing a career in veterinary medicine and inching closer to the beach. She’s just completed her first year at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine

Tis the season, and our lovely Loggerhead ladies are finally getting serious about their nesting. As of this writing we have twenty-three confirmed nests all up and down our beaches. And making sure that every nest is identified, staked and recorded are the Topsail Turtle Project volunteers - all 150 of them.