She was just 3 years old, sitting up in a small nondescript stroller. Her parents brought her along with them to SeaWorld San Antonio. Fascinated, she watched the “Shamu Show,” a show put on by trained orca specialists.
Kendra Nelson, a freshman from Arizona who has a self-described dedication and passion for marine life, especially for killer whales, said she knew she wanted to be a Shamu trainer since that day at SeaWorld.
Heidi Vasaloff, headmaster at Trivium Preparatory Academy in Arizona, where Nelson went to middle and high school, said, “Kendra has been unwavering in her passion for ocean animals. She was always a good advocate for helping us remember that we’re bigger than ourselves with the ocean and the health of our ecosystems.”
Of her passion, Nelson herself said, “It has evolved from just wanting to work with killer whales and orcas - which I love dearly - to dolphins, sea lions, and then it branched out and I loved all animals.”
Sabrina Domrique, a freshman majoring in math from Oklahoma and Nelson’s friend, described how before she moved to Hawaii, she never felt the need to care about marine life.
She commented, “Since moving out here and meeting Kendra, someone who is truly knowledgeable about this, I’ve realized that just because I don’t see it doesn’t mean that these things aren’t happening.”
Vasaloff agreed that Nelson had been a major player in helping to bring about change in her hometown in Arizona. “She still has a lasting influence on me and everyone else in the community just by sharing her passions. She has all these other gifts and talents, and yet she decided ‘this is what is important to me.’ The courage to do that - to be that committed - is just amazing. This is who she is.”
Domrique said what is so special about Nelson’s passion is she takes the time to educate herself about what she believes in. She added, “Kendra knows how to use social media as a platform to get her message out there.”
Nelson stated she loves wild research and going out on boats, but she especially tries to push causes on social media because “it’s not something that’s looked at very often. It’s just kind of shoved under the rug.”
Becoming a marine veterinarian might be her future goal, she said, but she loves field research. “Going out in the wild and helping out with sharks and everything is super beneficial, but I also really do love the animals that we have in captivity. I think they also help hand-in-hand with bringing awareness.”
Domrique commented about Nelson,“She doesn’t take these things lightly.” Vasaloff had a similar opinion. “She’s done her research and she knows her facts. And she’s definitely serving fully in that capacity.”
Nelson said she has found multiple opportunities to help the community and wildlife around her. In Arizona, she was in contact with the Keiko Conservation, a group dedicated to helping marine life specifically.
She has continued working with the group by participating in events like the monthly beach clean-up program put on by the One Ocean Conservation with social media influencers Ocean Ramsey and Juan Oliphant.
She participated specifically because she said she likes “places that are providing a better environment for wildlife and for us. It’s not just for animals because we are part of it too.”
However, in contrast to some other conservationists, zoo work and other volunteer efforts are also “under her belt,” as she likes to put it, when it comes to her background in wildlife and animal conservation efforts. She said this is important for the world because “seeing an animal in real life really helps people to love and care for it. People are going to care more for something they can see and interact with instead of just reading about it.”
Zoos and other facilities with animals in captivity is what brought Nelson out into wanting to help their wild counterparts, she said.
“Every animal I just want to help and save to the best of my ability,” Nelson commented.
BYU-Hawaii has provided her with a hands-on learning experience, Nelson noted. When she was deciding on a school, she said she wanted to major in marine biology, and BYUH seemed to be the best fit for her needs. She said, “I don’t have as much of an opportunity in Arizona.”
Her headmaster, Vasaloff, said, “I’m incredibly proud of her for not only seeing her clear path but choosing a university that affords her opportunities in that specific field. I wish everybody could do that. When it comes to things that fill and inspire you, Kendra has had a really clear sight of what she wants.”
Writer: Ally Pack