In a part of the country better known for wheat fields and cattle ranches than coral reefs and sea turtles, Taylor Korte’s story is unique to southeast Kansas. The 21-year-old from Humboldt recently completed a bachelor’s degree in marine biology with a minor in psychology from Southwestern College in Winfield.
This August, she’ll take an even bigger leap when she heads to the University of Miami to pursue a master’s degree in marine mammal science.
It’s a path not often charted by kids from southeast Kansas.
Korte, the youngest of four and daughter of Mike and Gari Korte, graduated from Humboldt High School in 2022. “Growing up, we went on vacation to the beach a lot,” Korte recalled. “When I was little, I fell in love with the ocean. I thought it was so cool.”
Those trips — paired with visits to aquariums in Kansas City and Tulsa — planted a seed that only grew stronger with time.
“I would watch the people working at aquariums and say, ‘I want to do what they’re doing,’” she said. Over the years, her fascination with marine life evolved into a full understanding of the ocean’s role in the health of the planet.
DESPITE STUDYING in landlocked Kansas, Korte found ways to dive deep into her passion. She spent two summers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Alabama, gaining firsthand experience conducting research on boats, handling marine animals, and collecting data in the field.
One of her favorite experiences involved working with sea turtles. “They’re so resilient,” she said. “They’ll get hit by boats and still find their way to shore — it’s like they know to ask for help.”
She also traveled to the Florida Keys for snorkeling studies, an eye-opening experience. “It was surreal to see all that life in its natural habitat, not behind glass — it was just insane.”
While marine biology may seem out of place in Kansas, Korte is quick to point out that her field is far more relevant to the Midwest than many realize. “We did research in creeks and ponds at Southwestern College,” she explained.
“We studied the abundance of fish and crawfish, the pH levels, salinity — all of it connects to larger environmental patterns. Healthy waterways here are part of the global picture and it all links to the ocean.”
If pH or salinity levels are imbalanced in lakes and rivers in the Midwest, it can indicate that there are issues on a larger scale in the ocean environment.
“These imbalances could lead to something like mass extinction,” she explained. “Some of our food resources come from ponds and oceans. Fish are very resilient, but once the pH or temperature levels have drastically changed, those fish are just going to die.”
Korte also hopes to encourage more citizen science efforts in her hometown. “Even something simple like cutting the plastic rings on soda packs so wildlife doesn’t get caught in them or skipping a plastic straw can make a difference. People don’t realize how much power they have, even away from the ocean.”
KORTE’S next adventure begins in August, when she moves to Coral Gables, Florida to begin a rigorous 12- to 14-month master’s program in marine mammal science. Her dream? Working in marine animal rehabilitation — rescuing and treating marine animals such as dolphins, sea lions, and whales before releasing them back into the wild.
“I want to be on the East Coast, working in conservation and helping animals,” she said. “But I definitely plan on coming back here to visit often. My whole family is here.”
