Nancy & Wylie Royce Guiding Star’s Plastics Hall of Fame Scholarship Recipient
Florida Institute of Technology
Freshman, Environmental Sustainability
Home: Vero Beach, FL

From a young age, environmental stewardship has been at the core of Jody Marion’s mission. In fifth grade, she delivered a winning speech on pollution, poaching, and oil spills for the Florida Tropicana competition—not for accolades, but to raise awareness among her peers. In middle school, she successfully led a petition for on-campus recycling, collecting over 200 signatures from students and faculty.
Throughout Jody’s academic journey, she has conducted environmental research with a focus on real-world impact. Notably, she tested biodegradable straws in natural Florida environments in both 2019 and 2024, finding that none fully degraded, which highlights the gap between marketing and practical sustainability. Her commitment extends beyond the classroom through her volunteer work with the Pelican Island Audubon Society and Coastal Connections Inc., where she actively supports beach cleanups and environmental education.

She currently works at Countryside Citrus Family Farms and Kool Stuff LLC. At Countryside, she proposed and developed a sustainability plan to reduce waste during seasonal events. At Kool Stuff, she serves as Director of Sustainability and founded Kool Stuff Kares, a division committed to identifying eco-friendly alternatives for client products. She is also guiding the company toward Green Business Benchmark certification and fostering partnerships with local conservation groups.

Accepted into Florida Institute of Technology to study Environmental Sustainability, her vision is to reduce global reliance on single-use plastics, beginning locally through collaborations with small businesses and eventually contributing to bioplastics innovation. She aspires to develop materials that biodegrade effectively in natural conditions and, with advanced degrees, partner with corporations to create scalable solutions. Her long-term goal is to serve on the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, promoting global environmental reform.