Growing up in a small town, Jake Seidel spent a lot of time working outdoors. He brought his passion for the outdoors to the University of Illinois Springfield where he’s now learning how to protect the environment as a biology major. At UIS, Seidel is president of the Biology Club, a member of the UIS Cross Country and Track and Field teams, the Capital Scholars Honors Program, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society and Students Allied for a Greener Earth (SAGE). He is also a voting member on the Green Fee Committee and has worked as a lab assistant and a science tutor. He has conducted wetland research at the UIS Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, volunteered to help with environmental restoration projects and completed summer internships with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Natural History Survey. Following graduation, he plans to earn his master’s degree and work in the wildlife management field.