Eddie’s interest in plants grew so much that he ultimately decided to pursue a bachelor’s in plant science at Cal Poly Pomona to gain a better understanding of how and why plants function the way they do. It was there that he had the opportunity to participate in a K-12 program that was designed to utilize the on-campus educational gardens to educate local K-12 students on the biology and ethnobotany of our native SoCal flora. Leading these tours grew to be some of Eduardo’s most memorable moments of his undergraduate degree as he had to opportunity to engage with, teach, and learn from hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds.

Currently, Eddie is finalizing his masters degree in Biology at CSULA and will soon be moving to Madison, Wisconsin to pursue a PhD in Botany. Eduardo is hoping to make the most of his last few months in SoCal and when he saw the opportunity to work with HAWKS LA, he immediately jumped on the opportunity. By being able to be outdoors and continuing to educate kids about our native plant species, two of his favorite things to do, Eddie knew that working for HAWKS LA would be a super fun experience before beginning the next step of his career. By working with HAWKS LA, Eddie hopes to spread his fascination and appreciation for our native ecosystems while fostering a safe, inviting, and fun environment for everyone involved.