Sachem High School North sophomore Jacob Karavias was recently selected as one of only two eighth to 12th grade students nationwide to be awarded the O’Seas Conservation Foundation’s Greg Norman Shark Camp Scholarship.  

The Montauk-based nonprofit organization O’Seas Conservation Foundation, led by world-renowned shark biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell, integrates shark conservation efforts with youth education. The mission of the organization is to secure the future of marine life and oceans through local shark research efforts that directly involve youth as a means to educate, inspire and train these future leaders of marine conservation.  

Throughout the camp, Jacob will get top-notch marine biology training and participate in an authentic science research experience. He will assist Dr. O’Connell and his crew as they deploy small-scale longlines to assess the shark species living along the New York coastline. The majority of the sharks captured are small; however, Dr. O’Connell has captured thresher, blue, sandbar, mako and even white sharks during his past sampling. Upon capture, sharks are immediately tagged, data recorded, dehooked and released.

In addition, the O’Seas Conservation Foundation has other projects that will certainly prove this opportunity a life-changing experience. Some of these activities include live-feed baited camera trap activities, a tuna troll-cam, active shark tracking, baited remote underwater video system deployment and whale vocalization research.