Shark Researcher Apryl DeLancey Joins Waterfront Education Team

    REDONDO BEACH, CA, May 26, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Los Angeles native Apryl DeLancey, an active shark researcher, is joining the Waterfront Education's Discovery Leadership Team. Starting this summer, she will be leading Ocean Shark Excursions for 4th through 8th graders. This six hour hands-on learning excursion will utilize our local ocean waters as a natural classroom to explore shark biodiversity, bodies, functions, and how to spot fake shark stories in the news.

"Having an active and respected shark researcher like Apryl join our team allows us to continue to create unique learning opportunities for our students and expand the depth of our educational offerings." says Julie Coll, Founder/Executive Director.

Apryl received her undergraduate degree with a dual major (Chemistry and Marine Science) from the University of Tampa in Tampa, FL and was chosen as an Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry awardee. In the summer between college and graduate school, she interned at the Hollings Marine Lab with NOAA in Charleston, SC. After receiving a Master's Degree from the Medical University of South Carolina from the Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Epidemiology she returned home to Los Angeles and worked as a statistician. Apryl brings with her over a decade of field experience on both the east and west coast of the United States - Including five years with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, FL where she worked as a volunteer, intern, Stranding Team member and staff biologist. In addition, she has served in various capacities with the following organizations: South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, SC; Heal the Bay Pier Aquarium in Santa Monica, CA; Science Center's Marine Animal Husbandry team in Los Angeles; and the Manhattan Beach Pier Roundhouse Aquarium in Manhattan Beach, CA.

Apryl brings a passion for the ocean and a wide breadth of ocean experiences to her students. "I'm looking forward to working with the Waterfront Education team and helping kids develop an understanding and awareness of the important role sharks play in maintaining healthy marine habitats...while sneaking in some math too!", says DeLancey. She currently works as a "scientist entrepreneur" that studies shark populations and has been featured in Discovery's Shark Week magazine companion and as a regular shark expert for many news outlets.

King Harbor Boating Foundation dba Waterfront Education is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Julie Coll and Mark Hansen. As avid boaters they have explored, enjoyed and protected the rich marine ecosystems in Santa Monica Bay and beyond. They saw a need to create an organization to educate the community about the ocean environment by having them actively engage with nature out on the water. Their mission is to provide an ocean-based interactive and supportive learning environment for students from all socio-economic backgrounds and to foster public interest in and promote stewardship of our marine environments.

# # #