Despite growing up where the only waves are the ripples in a sea of corn, Sara McElroy of Marietta, Ohio, always had a fascination with the ocean. That passion recently led McElroy, who graduated in May from Cedarville University with a degree in biology, to complete a semester-long Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship with the Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences (BIOS) through Arizona State University (ASU).
“I’m so thankful God gave me this opportunity to see what marine research looks like,” said McElroy. “He’s such an amazing Creator, and that’s what I love about science. As we go deeper and deeper, we see how everything is so intertwined. To take one factor out displaces everything.”
During the internship, McElroy conducted a research project studying how repeated heat stress affects the protein levels in coral. Her work contributed to a larger project called ENCORE, which focuses on understanding what factors influence coral response to environmental stressors.
“It was the best of both worlds," said McElroy. “I could do research in a lab testing coral and then step outside onto the beach and go snorkeling in the reefs.”
McElroy credits her time at Cedarville with not only preparing her academically but also helping her grow in her faith.
“I knew that going into higher education in a science field meant I needed to be grounded in my faith and continually allow creation to point me to the Creator,” said McElroy. “That’s why I chose to do my undergraduate work at Cedarville.”
Cedarville’s wide network also proved to be a blessing to McElroy during her time in Bermuda. While attending a church, McElroy met five Cedarville alumni who live on the island, including Leila (Perry) Madeiros) ’83, who served as a surrogate mother throughout her time in Bermuda.
“It’s amazing to see that even out on the island of Bermuda there were Cedarville connections and people there to push me to grow in my faith,” said McElroy.
As McElroy looks ahead to a year of missions work after graduation — and considers full-time missions or grad school — she views her internship as a reminder of God’s providence in every chapter of her life, from Cedarville to Bermuda and beyond.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.