PORT TOWNSEND — A Port Townsend High School freshman has been named runner-up in the International Herpetological Symposium’s Junior Herpetologist Contest in the 12-15 age category.
Lauren Taracka, 15, has started a fundraiser at www.gofundme.com/r6xtj28 to raise $1,400 toward travel, food, hotel and miscellaneous costs. As of Thursday, the site had raised $615.
“I want to go to school to study herpetology and work with exotic animals when I grow up,” said Lauren on the GoFundMe site.
“I know that this conference would provide me with a lot of education, plus help guide me in the path I want to take in my life to work with these animals,” she said.
Her award of $415 includes full admission for her and a parent to the International Herpetological Symposium on May 27-30 in San Antonio and to the banquet at the San Antonio Zoo.
She also will get a behind-the-scenes tour of the reptile house at the zoo, plus $100 toward travel expenses.
The event will feature talks and presentations from experts from around the world.
Lauren has three pet snakes, two leopard gecko lizards and one White’s tree frog.
“I do presentations for children and events with my animals to educate people about snakes and the misconceptions they have about them,” she said on the site.
“I know that I will learn so much there that will help me care for my own animals and continue to teach people about how important reptiles are to our environment and how people can exist with snakes, without fearing them,” she added.
To enter the contest, Lauren wrote an essay, sent letters of recommendation, created a piece of artwork and wrote a letter about why she thought she should get the award.
