Wawasee Community School Corporation

Hannah-Marie Lamle - Class 0f 2018

From the classrooms and courts of Wawasee High School to the coral reefs of the Florida Keys, Hannah-Marie has taken her Warrior spirit to remarkable depths—literally. A 2018 graduate, she is now a PhD candidate at Florida International University in Miami, where she is studying coral reef ecology.

As a doctoral candidate, Hannah-Marie has traded textbooks for the ocean, spending much of her summer SCUBA diving among fragile coral ecosystems. Her research focuses on understanding why certain groups of corals thrive together in one area but look very different just miles away. She explores whether these patterns are shaped by environmental factors—like water temperature, sunlight, or nutrients—or by competition among species. The answers she uncovers will help guide coral restoration efforts, ensuring that reef managers plant species where they are most likely to survive.

Her work is especially timely. As coral reefs decline worldwide due to rising ocean temperatures, Hannah-Marie is also pioneering new underwater technologies to monitor coral health without removing samples. “This is an exciting avenue,” she explains, “because it not only helps restoration managers, but it also gives us a new window into understanding how corals interact with their environment.” Alongside her research, she teaches lab sections for her department’s Marine Protected Areas class, another way she shares her passion with the next generation.

Building Blocks at Wawasee

Hannah-Marie credits much of her success to the foundation she built at Wawasee. Rigorous classes like AP Biology, Calculus, and Statistics, she gives a special nod to Mr. Szynal, who prepared her for the academic challenges of higher education. A freshman-year field trip to Lake Wawasee sparked her early interest in ecology, connecting her to the natural world in a way that later grew into a career path.

But it wasn’t only academics. As a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball, and track, she learned leadership, time management, and perseverance; skills she still relies on in the lab and in the field. “Carrying heavy equipment, swimming to sites, and being in the sun all day is hard work,” she says. “I’m thankful my coaches taught me how to take care of myself physically.”

She also points to the Wawasee Leadership Committee (WLC) as a transformative part of her Warrior Experience. Through WLC, she learned how to connect with communities and organize outreach efforts; skills she now uses in Miami to bring public awareness to coral reef conservation.

Fond Warrior Memories

When she looks back, it’s the friendships and shared experiences that shine brightest. She recalls late-night bus rides after basketball games, grueling but bonding volleyball two-a-days, and the joy of track meet rituals. Her sophomore-year senior skit with close friends remains a favorite memory, as do the everyday moments, finding your friends at lunch, passing them in the hallway, or laughing between classes.

What the Warrior Experience Means

For Hannah-Marie Lamle, the Warrior Experience is about growth, personally and as part of something larger. “The Warrior Experience means having the passion and courage to pursue your goals despite what others say,” she reflects. It’s also about working together with teammates, peers, and teachers to create something better for the whole community.

Whether she’s diving in the Florida Keys or leading a classroom in Miami, Hannah-Marie Lamle continues to live out the Warrior Experience, growing, leading, and making a difference in the world