This student story is one of five winners of the Summer Writing Awards as part of the 2026 NASW Perlman Virtual Mentoring Program organized by the NASW Education Committee, providing science journalism experience for undergraduate and graduate students.
Story by Breyton Hill
Mentored and edited by Eric Bender
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Main image caption: Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs, one-year-olds that the San Francisco Zoo has reared from tadpoles and released in national parks and forests. Credit: San Francisco Zoo & Gardens.
Breyton Hill is an aspiring science journalist. She graduated from North Carolina State University in May with a bachelor’s degree in Genetics. During her time there, she found an appreciation for science writing and communication, and she will attend University of California/Santa Cruz in the fall to earn her masters in science communication. When she is not doing research or writing, Breyton can be found on a walk with her dog or reading a good book.
Eric Bender is a retired science writer whose career began in a time when you needed two people to carry a video camera.
