Tayler Chicoine, Grinnell College

Tayler Chicoine is a fourth-year biology student at Grinnell College who is passionate about creating coalitions that make a local environmental difference. As part of a mentored advanced project, Tayler designed a community survey on watershed awareness where she learned that most members of the local community were not able to name their own watersheds or identify unique local water impairments. Tayler then decided she should make a difference. She spoke about watersheds to children in third grade classrooms, presented information about water quality issues to various civic organizations, and, with the support of IOWATER, founded and trained a group of students who regularly test and monitor various sites in local watersheds. However, Tayler’s most sustaining legacy to the Grinnell community will be the coalitions she has helped to build among different organizations such as the Boy Scouts, the local high school, community foundations, the city government, and the college. All of these organizations and many more are now more aware of local water issues, are dedicated to improving water quality, and are more able to educate others about what can be done to improve our water.