Here’s how one Nebraska public schools’ program provides students from metro-area districts the opportunity to explore all aspects of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and gain a jump-start to their post-secondary plans.

Roni has described herself as the ​‘boomerang’ of the Henry Doorly Zoo Academy, a public school program in the metro area.

A 2012 graduate, she came back to the Zoo as an intern and for nearly a year she has served as a full-time animal nutrition researcher in her former classroom; however, her research focus was almost very different if it wasn’t for one of the many opportunities of the Academy.

​“You’re going to find what you like and you’re going to find what you don’t like,” Roni said. ​“It’s really until you have those experiences of actually doing something before you truly know.”

Through the Academy’s shadowing opportunities, she took a chance and instead of focusing solely on a genetics route, she opened the door for a different possibility.

We feature students from Papillion La Vista Community Schools in our latest commercial. Meet Keylee and learn more about what it’s like to take classes at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium​’s Zoo Academy.