A fascination with sharks will bring Hannah Holmes to the University of Tampa this fall -- and her scholarship-winning essay will bring her experiences to our website, where she'll share stories of her freshman year with readers.

The aspiring researcher from Riverview, Florida has been helping out for years at the Florida Aquarium, where she prepares food for birds and sharks. A three-time nominee for Volunteer of the Year, she was recently hired as the junior biologist for the aquarium's quarantine team. Not even a college freshman, she already shoulders important responsibilities such as feeding fish, checking water quality, and maintaining tanks.

Initially, Hannah thought she was "seriously going crazy" during the college decision process. She knew she wanted two things: 1) to stay close to her family, and 2) to study marine biology and sharks, which fascinate her. "Moving out was going to be a big enough change for me," she said. "I didn’t want to limit family time to Thanksgiving and Christmas." Luckily for her, there's no better place to live than Florida if you're interested in marine biology programs.

Despite the higher price tag at a private school, Hannah and her parents decided that it was important for her to be able to pursue her desired major. The University of Tampa boasts impressive research facilities and proximity to several major aquariums, including the Florida Aquarium where she works.

In addition to her love for aquatic animals, Hannah is also a strong student. Homeschooled through high school, she was a member of the National Honor Roll and was a National Merit Scholar nominee. She has also previously interned in the water quality department of Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves.

After college, she hopes to work in animal husbandry and eventually go into research. Though her upcoming freshman year may change her perspective on a few things, she's certain of this much: "Sharks are my passion."

Check out the MyCollegeOptions blog in the upcoming weeks to read Hannah's accounts of her freshman year of college and her pursuit of marine biology.