On November 17, 2017, Wheaton Academy students, Alexis Savage and Christine Andrew had the opportunity to participate in “CEO for the Day” at Shedd Aquarium. The students spent the day with Shedd Aquarium’s CEO, Dr. Bridget Coughlin and witnessed the ins and outs of leading a non-profit organization while meeting some of Shedd’s 32,000 animals along the way.
The students were chosen based on essays they wrote about what the experience would mean to them. Alexis Savage expressed her love of marine life; “The ocean is a beautiful mystery to me. It is the most fascinating, undervalued ecosystem in the world.” Christine Andrew shared her career aspirations; “I am interested in studying the behavior of marine animals and believe that some social interaction with marine life can provide me with a glimpse into that specific field.”
Throughout the day, the students experienced what a typical day is like for Shedd’s CEO and also learned more about animal care, career pathways and strategic planning. They went behind-the-scenes to meet Shedd’s animal care team and rescue animals, including Ty the sea lion. After chatting about environmental advocacy and conservation, the students went backstage in Shedd’s Wild Reef exhibit to learn about sharks, animal diets and nutrition, and even saw the planning process for a special exhibit.
The “CEO for the Day” experience was purchased as an auction item on behalf of Dover at Shedd Aquarium’s annual Gala and donated to Wheaton Academy. All proceeds from the auction supported Shedd’s conservation initiatives, including developing environmental stewards through learning programs, international field research and action programs.
Pictured left to right: Alexis Savage, Bridget Coughlin, Shedd Aquarium and Christine Andrew pose with California sea lion, Ty. Photo credit: Shedd Aquarium / Brenna Hernandez.