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Boardman graduate becomes a dolphins fan
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Neighbors | Submitted.Boardman native Kiersten Rader, who is studying Animal Sciences and Psychology at Ohio State, recently returned from a five month internship in Hawaii studying bottlenose dolphins at Dolphin Quest. In a photo from her time in Hawaii, she is working with the one year old female dolphin Noelani.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Boardman native Kiersten Rader (center) recently returned from a five month internship in Hawaii studying bottlenose dolphins at Dolphin Quest, a leading dolphin training, husbandry, and research facility. Dolphin Quest also hosts intimate dolphin encounters with guests of the Hilton Waikoloa Village Beach Resort, and during an encounter, Rader showed 6 guests the anatomy of a dolphin.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Boardman native Kiersten Rader, who is studying Animal Sciences and Psychology at Ohio State, recently returned from a five month internship in Hawaii studying bottlenose dolphins at Dolphin Quest. Rader (right) taught dolphins how to respond to an auditory command called recall during her internship.
By SARAH FOOR
Boardman native Kiersten Rader recently spent five months playing, training and studying Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins at the Dolphin Quest training facility in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
Rader, a junior at Ohio State studying Animal Sciences and Psychology, was able to get hands-on experience with the marine mammals during her five-month internship.
“Dolphins are among the most intelligent in the animal kingdom. During my time in Hawaii, I focused on the psychology of the dolphins, researching how they think, process new and recall old information. The cognitive processes that dolphins utilize in various tasks are something that I have always found astonishing, and being given the opportunity to witness the dolphin’s mind at work was the perfect opportunity,” Rader explained.
Rader’s days at dolphin Quest were busy, as she was given opportunities to work side-by-side with experienced trainers, lead guests from a nearby hotel into the water to meet and learn about dolphins, and assist with Calf Observations of the newest baby dolphin at the facility.
Rader furthered her education on marine mammal training by attending a weekly Trainer Lecture Series taught by senior trainers.
Rader, who graduated from Boardman High School in 2009, said her parents and her education are the reason why she strives to achieve big things. She said her parents, Dave and Colleen Rader of Boardman, inspired her love of marine animals during a family vacation at the age of 10.
“I don’t think they had any idea that trip would lead me to where I am today, but they have supported me so much and have been there through thick and thin. My guidance counselor at the high school, Richard Smrek, also always pushed me to chase my dreams and goals no matter how unreachable they felt sometimes,” Rader explained.
Rader hopes other Boardman students will use their education in the district to its full advantage.
“I truly think that my education at Boardman set me up for success. I hope that students at Boardman High know that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to and that there are plenty of staff members that will be supporting them along the way,” Rader said.