Testimonials

I've had the great honor of knowing Nancy Caruso at Get Inspired since she took me under her wing as a young middle schooler. After 10+ years I continue to look up to her and feel lucky to consider her a mentor and a friend. Nancy is one of the most passionate, intelligent, and hard working women you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. She has the unique ability to weave together communities and spread her passion for science and conservation among all ages. My life would be totally different if I never had the opportunity to learn from Nancy. She helped ignite and flame my passion for wildlife and conservation work. I feel truly lucky to know her and continue to learn from her.I attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received a Bachelor's of Science in "Natural Resources and Environmental Management with a specialization in Wildlife". I'm currently working at the Woodland Park Zoo in Washington as a Naturalist.

Nancy Caruso and Get Inspired were an instrumental part of my high school career, exposing me to the importance of sustainability and providing me the hands-on opportunity to make a difference. I learned how to raise both juvenile white seabass and green abalone in closed, recirculating tank systems. Not only did Get Inspired provide me with a rich extracurricular experience on campus, it also allowed me to see my work come full circle when I was given the chance to become SCUBA certified and release the juvenile white seabass I had raised on a dive trip to Catalina. Under Nancy’s mentorship, I also had the opportunity to publish my original research that I presented at the Southern California Academy of Sciences on the Tolerance of White Seabass Atractoscion nobilis to Nitrogeneous Wastes. Nancy’s passion for her work and for teaching students is something I truly admire, and I will forever be grateful for having the chance to learn from her.

As an Advanced Placement science teacher, Get Inspired is a wonderful community resource in Orange County. Its founder, Nancy Caruso, lives the mission of helping other to become better ocean stewards as well as inspiring students to make a difference in their community while also acting as a mentor for future jobs and research projects. We have participated in the white seabass and science expeditions programs since 2007. Nancy is a problem solver and only wants to share her knowledge with the world so more can "get inspired" to make a difference.

I am a retired engineer and SCUBA instructor who met Nancy Caruso in 2002 as a volunteer for her kelp restoration project here in Orange County, CA. Since then I have spent countless time with her locally and abroad, both above and below water, and now participate with her Get Inspired activities. While Nancy is focused and dedicated to her many projects, I believe her biggest attribute is the way she deals with others. She is friendly, instructive, patient and forgiving, and uses that to rally people around her wherever she goes and whatever new project she is pursuing. Nancy is an absolute people magnet and would be a positive attribute to any organization and/or project.

Get Inspired is a wonderful organization. When I met Nancy Caruso in my 9th grade biology class, she provided an opportunity for me to become involved in marine conservation, and I had always loved the ocean but did not know what actions to take. This evolved into my Girl Scout Gold Award, which opened up many possibilities for me. Through Get Inspired, I learned that with passion, hard work, leadership, and commitment, I can make a difference in my community. This inspired me to pursue a Master's of Social Innovation at the Kroc School of Peace Studies. Get Inspired, thank you for continuing to conserve our marine biodiversity and inspire generations of new social entrepreneurs.

Nancy truly has been the most influential role model I have had in my life. Through Get Inspired, she has taught me that anyone who has a bit of curiosity and patience to learn the basics can enter the vast realm of science. Because she nurtured my interest in science, I am now majoring in environmental geology to potentially pursue a career in hydrology.

Over ten years ago, Nancy Caruso inspired me to explore the wonders of the underwater world. Her enthusiasm and exuberant passion for healthy kelp forest ecosystems along the California coast was and has always been highly infectious to every student and adult alike that has had the opportunity to work with her. Get Inspired Inc. is a revolutionary organization, through which students are inspired to research, conserve, and protect our precious ocean resources. Students also get the rare opportunity to gain skill sets and knowledge of restoration techniques otherwise not offered in a classroom setting like aquaculture. Without Nancy and Get Inspired Inc., I would not have extended my education to earn my masters in Marine Biology specifically focused in kelp forest systems. Get Inspired Inc is a huge step in the right direction to a more equipped and passionate future generation of humans that will continue to protect our world's oceans.

Nancy has made a permanent impact on my son and his professional trajectory. As a teen, Nancy guided him through his massive Eagle Scout project and further inspired his love of the ocean and the importance of balancing the kelp forest ecosystems. Nancy is a kind, patient mentor that understands how to reach youth while balancing fun and respect with everyone. She has that special gift of innately knowing how to work with others and youth....not everyone can do it well, but Nancy naturally knows how to talk to and motivate people to bring out their best, all while generating a sense of fun and enjoyment for the task at hand. Partly due to his relationship with Nancy and Get Inspired, my son is now perusing a future in Marine Biology and is already a PADI Divemaster and Instructor. He has spent the last 6 months doing a Marine Biology Internship surveying the reefs of Fiji, all inspired by Nancy Caruso and his time working with her and Get Inspired!

Mrs. Caruso mentored me through my Eagle Scout project which focused on educating the public about the importance of our Kelp Forest Ecosystems. She was patient and fun to work with, and inspired me to find my own direction while feeling supported by her; I learned to lead through the opportunities she offered me. Mrs. Caruso somehow knew how to bring out the best in me and made me want to go beyond what I thought I was capable of for Get Inspired! She is a true mentor in my life who has been a catalyst for guiding the direction of my future in Marine Sciences; I am a PADI Divemaster and Instructor and recently returned from doing a Marine Conservation Internship in Fiji. Thank you Mrs. Caruso for inspiring me and my future!