ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan Biological Station selected five undergraduate students at U-M to serve as student ambassadors during the 2025-26 academic year.
Anya Renzi, Skye Umney, Micah Heerema, Dominick Noeker and Janet Larios recently took courses at the historic research and teaching campus in northern Michigan and will share their reviews and guidance with prospective students and their families at events in Ann Arbor.
“It is an opportunity unlike anything else, and the people need to know about it,” Noeker said.
The UMBS alumni will make their debut on the Diag from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the 30th anniversary of Earthfest, a gathering that highlights care for people, place and planet.
“The ambassadors come from a variety of academic backgrounds, but they all share a deep pride and passion for their UMBS experience,” said Dr. Aimée Classen, director of UMBS. “We hope their voices and enthusiasm will inspire fellow U-M students from a wide range of majors to join our immersive community next spring and summer through field-based courses or as undergraduate research fellows.”
The student ambassadors will be available to answer questions about living and learning at the field research station nestled along Douglas Lake at an Information Session on Main Campus in Ann Arbor from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, in Dana Building Room 1040.
“It was a place that offered me an opportunity to see things from a different perspective in a setting that encouraged students to be engulfed in their studies,” Larios said.
Through the fall and winter semesters, student ambassadors also will connect with UMBS staff to examine ways to further enhance the student experience at the campus founded in 1909 and comprised of more than 10,000 forested acres surrounded by lakes and rivers.
“UMBS alumni are in a unique position to offer invaluable feedback on station operations, course offerings, and ways to connect with prospective students,” said Candice Everett, academic program manager at UMBS.
“We’re proud that Anya, Skye, Micah, Dominick and Janet are excited to share their experiences at the field station with other students and assist leadership with planning for the future.”
Meet the Student Ambassadors
Skyler "Skye" Umney
Skye Umney is a junior at U-M majoring in microbiology.
The transfer student from Schoolcraft first attended UMBS in 2024 through the Transfer Bridges to the Humanities program.
This year Skye took Field Mycology and Field Studies of Insects during the summer term.
"The Biological Station is where I fell in love with Michigan, not just the school, but the truly unique ecosystems that make being a Michigander just that bit more prideful,” Umney said.
Micah Heerema
Micah Heerema is a sophomore at U-M double majoring in Program in the Environment (PitE) and Spanish.
During the 2025 summer term in July, Heerema was a resident advisor (RA) at UMBS while also taking two courses.
“Spending my summer at UMBS was a truly life-changing experience where I found an incredible community and learned so much from amazing, passionate people,” Heerema said. “I decided to be an Ambassador so that I get to talk about my experience all the time.”
Janet Larios
Janet Larios is a sophomore at U-M majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology.
One of many field projects during the spring 2025 term at UMBS for Larios was collecting and marking snails from Douglas Lake as part of a class assignment to predict the population size of aquatic snails that play vital roles in lake ecosystems, acting as both grazers and food sources.
"I became an Ambassador for UMBS because I fell in love with my own experience being at Douglas Lake, and I hope to encourage others to have their own experiences there as well,” Larios said.
“The passion from professors, peers, and workers alike was always amazing to see and be part of. I have become more adaptable and creative because of this experience with memories I will never soon forget."
Anya Renzi
Anya Renzi, a senior at U-M majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology, is returning for a second year as UMBS Student Ambassador.
In the spring of 2024 Renzi took the General Ecology Lecture and General Ecology Lab courses.
“I love the outdoors, any body of water, and learning more about the natural world around me, which made the Biological Station the perfect place for me to spend my summer,” Renzi said.
“When I'm not talking about the UMBS, I'm likely crafting in some form or another, reading mystery novels, or petting my two cats."
Anya is passionate about the ocean and sustainability and hopes to go on to graduate school for marine biology.
Dominick Noeker
Dominick Noeker is a sophomore at U-M studying ecology and evolutionary biology as well as German.
He spent both spring and summer term at UMBS this year and also served as an RA for both terms.
“I wanted to be an ambassador for the Biostation to share it with others,” Noeker said.
“The Biostation is the reason I went to Michigan, and it has had a huge influence over my career aspirations. It connected me with researchers and professors who I've kept in touch with even after leaving the Biostation.”
Sign up to receive notification when the 2026 UMBS course list and application go live in November 2025.
Courses are taught during four-week spring and summer terms. The spring 2026 term is May 19 through June 18. The summer 2026 term is June 30 through July 30. The Priority Application Deadline is March 15, 2026.
All majors and minors are welcome. Most courses have a research component. No prior field experience is required. All students can be considered for UMBS scholarship funding as well as undergraduate research fellowships, including guest and international students.
The University of Michigan Biological Station serves as a gathering place to learn from the natural world, advance research and education, and inspire action. We leverage over a century of research and transformative experiences to drive discoveries and solutions to benefit Michigan and beyond.
Our vast campus engages all of the senses. Its remote, natural setting nurtures deep thought and scientific discovery.
Founded in 1909, UMBS supports long-term research and education through immersive, field-based courses and features state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for data collection and analysis to help any field researcher be productive. It is where students and scientists from across the globe live and work as a community to learn from the place.
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