Jan 16, 2021
The Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute recently awarded its 2020 Volunteer of the Year Award to two recipients, Alan Espiritu and Bruce Weyermann, who both serve as volunteer lead field responders for the institute’s Sea Turtle Response Team.
The marine institute’s inaugural Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes team members for their leadership, outstanding service to the community and commitment to ocean conservation.
Espiritu and Weyermann volunteer almost daily and accumulated more than 800 hours of volunteer time in 2020, according to an announcement from the marine institute. They lead a team of trained volunteers and respond to reports received through the stranding response line. They also assist with patient care and treatments, transport turtles when needed and investigate innovative tools and resources to assist with sea turtle conservation efforts.