By Lisa Tagal
On November 20, 2024, Bonney Lake High School held its annual Career Day, where over 30 community members gathered to talk to students about their careers. IBSSʻ Senior Aquaculturist, Mark Tagal, attended to share about IBSS as a whole, to explain our lines of businesses, and more specifically, what he does at IBSS. Mark told the students about his past jobs, both related and unrelated to fishery science, and how they prepared him to be the marine biologist and aquaculturist he is today. He also highlighted some of the more unique programs of IBSS, including the Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP) missions.
There were many questions about various topics, but several students asked how they could start preparing as high schoolers to enter the workforce. Gathering various life experiences combined with volunteer work was one of Mark’s first recommendations. Volunteer work sparked the perfect segue into the PMDP missions that IBSS sponsors. This topic piqued a quick interest among the students, and it is easy to see why the topic of garbage removal can become so much more than the name conveys. PDMP’s cleanup project in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands is the story of adventure on the high seas, rescuing sea turtles, swimming with sharks, and observing Mother Nature at her best and most difficult, all while exploring desert atolls. Students could not ask fast enough if they could sign up immediately or be on the waitlist for a future cruise. It is exciting to think that future graduates from Bonney Lake High School in Washington State could be helping to clear the Northwest Hawaiian Islands of marine debris and derelict fishing gear.
There were a few full circle moments in the day when future chefs from the culinary program specifically chose to attend Mark’s talk, having already been familiar with IBSS and Mark’s prior teaching events on campus. These students are well-versed in aquaculture-raised seafood and shared how keen they are to continue with their cooking careers inspired by the Merroir talks given last year and early this year. IBSS’ most recent support of the culinary competition “Bite of the Apprentice,” held on November 4, was still passionately present in the minds of these future culinary enthusiasts. Thanks to a grant from eeBlue/NAAEE/NOAA and generous industry partner donations from Washington and Hawaii, the Bonney Lake high school team secured a third-place overall win, competing against only two high schools, multiple college programs, and numerous professional teams. Their excitement was still reverberating from this high-profile win!
While many different careers were showcased at BLHS Career Day, it could be solidly stated that of all the people and companies in attendance, no single person/organization could speak to the variety of career options within one company more than IBSS and Mark Tagal. From chef, marine biologist, cyber/it, conservation warrior, ocean farmer, and aquaculturist extraordinaire, Mark was able to truly highlight the many career opportunities IBSS offers.
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