By Sophia Marcum

I interviewed Kory about his hopes for the future…and a few other topics. Read on to learn more about this saltwater connoisseur. 

What year did you graduate from BHS?
I graduated in 2013.

Where are you attending school now and what are you studying?
I am attending University of North Carolina Wilmington and double majoring in Marine Biology and Environmental Science

What led you to these fields of study?
My love for the ocean has been around ever since I was little and would go to the shore in New Jersey. Then Ocean Focus and the acquired hobby of keeping saltwater aquariums lead me to pursue a degree in Marine Biology. I tacked on Environmental Science just to be expand my knowledge and gain greater experiences while in college.

It’s fascinating to me how little we know about the ocean. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 95% of our oceans remain unexplored. Is this a percentage you’ve considered trying to reduce in your lifetime? Why or why not?
As bad as this may sound, I am not interested in exploration necessarily. I think it is fascinating how and where they are exploring, and the organisms they find are mind blowing! Instead though, I would like to work with the organisms they find and see if they have any uses for us in the medical world.

How would you most like to use your degree after graduation?
I would first like to use my degree to go on for more school. Then I would like to work with medical companies to grow and culture organisms needed for different medicines and/or compounds for surgical procedures.

Can you recall what jobs you dreamed of when you were a kid?
For the longest time when I was little I wanted to run a pet store. Then, as I started to think about college, this turned into becoming a zookeeper. But that all changed when I got into my saltwater hobby.

Once you die, if you could become a ghost and haunt any building in Bluffton, which building would you choose?
I would probably haunt the high school because I would have so many people and options for playing tricks.

You recently spent some time abroad, where did your travels take you?
At the beginning of the summer two of my friends and I went on a trip through parts of Europe. I was in southwestern Germany, Switzerland, eastern France and Barcelona Spain.

While abroad, what experience put you most out of your comfort zone? How did you overcome it?
This was my first trip out of the country, so most of it was a little uncomfortable. The most uncomfortable was living in Spain for three days while none of us were very good at Spanish. Barcelona was a big city and we were dropped off right in the middle of it without help or maps (we forgot them at the airport!).

So we three college students used our great wisdom and found a nearby Starbucks to get WIFI. From there we ventured to figure out where we were even at. After getting WIFI and studying maps that night in our apartment the experience became much more comfortable.

What is your favorite season? Why?
Fall, because of the leaves, cool weather, bonfires, and the tourists leave the beaches. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Thinking back to grade school - do any teachers come to mind who made a significant impact on your life?
Being honest, I really don’t remember grade school.

That’s all right! Let’s talk about where you’re at now. What’s the most interesting activity you’ve participated in at college? Tell us a bit about it.
Since college I have been exposed to the “beach life”…and it is great. Since I’ve come to college I took up surfing, had some great times fishing in the mashes, hammocked under the boardwalks, and camped on the beach. It is such an amazing experience. I feel lucky to have the pleasure of the beach because it takes so much stress off you when big tests, homework, jobs, internships, and life begin piling up.

Kory will be entering his Junior year of college soon. Leave a comment to with him luck!