To honor the life of Chef Andrew Michael Alessi, Debris Free Oceans created the Chef Andrew Scholar Internship, a 9-month paid program for college students based in South Florida who are passionate about tackling plastic pollution through education, outreach, and advocacy.
Interns in this hybrid program receive mentorship from the Debris Free Oceans team and develop skills in zero-waste practices, public speaking, and community organizing.
About Chef Andrew Michael Alessi
Chef Andrew’s two passions were culinary arts and the ocean. As a credentialed Chef, he spent many hours preparing signature recipes and presentations for the kitchens of the finest Miami restaurants including 27 and The Fontainebleau. Andrew also spent many happy days diving among the beautiful reefs of Miami, the Florida Keys, and the Caribbean and made sure he always collected any debris he saw attached to the reefs.
How Scholars Make a Difference
Each month, interns co-lead one cleanup and complete additional outreach activities such as tabling events, educational presentations, and policy engagement. Over the course of the program, each intern is expected to attend 4 tabling events, deliver 2 educational presentations, and complete 2 policy actions like making a public comment or contacting lawmakers.
Interns receive a $2,400 stipend, paid in monthly installments upon completion of required activities.
Meet Our Chef Andrew Scholars
Click a headshot to learn more about each scholar.



She graduated from Miami Dade College Honors College with an Associate's Degree in Chemical Engineering and later transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to complete her bachelor's in Chemical Engineering. Her commitment to sustainability and resource conservation was evident in her academic pursuits, as she aimed to become a professional chemical engineer specializing in energy and material science.

Post graduation, Bethany is dedicated to the restoration of Biscayne Bay’s precious ecosystem and educating Miami residents and tourists about its treasures.

Now graduated, Alyssa has moved to Cleveland, OH where she works with high schools in the Greater Cleveland area to expose students to the opportunities that await them after high school and to increase postsecondary attainment. She is still heavily involved in the zero plastic movement and hopes to combine her passion and the passions of students to create a generation of plastic free ambassadors.


Currently, Amanda serves as the Program Manager for Debris Free Oceans, where she continues to work towards a zero-waste future. In her role, she not only oversees various programs but also mentors and guides the next generation of Chef Andrew Scholars, empowering them to follow in her footsteps.


She is currently pursuing a Master of International Affairs at Columbia University with a concentration in Energy and Environment. In addition to this, Haley is a Digital Editor at the Journal of International Affairs where she reviews and edits submitted articles. After graduating, Haley plans to work in renewable energy expansion or another sector that will allow her to mitigate some of the negative impacts of climate change.


Isabella is currently an Assistant in Policy, Communication, & Collaboration for the American Meteorological Society, where she continues to incorporate conservation, environmental justice, and community-led solutions into her work at the intersection of science and policy.

Esther is now a Pollution Control Inspector with Miami-Dade County’s Division of Environmental Resource Management. She volunteers frequently with the outreach and education team helping with events such as Baynanza and Adopt-A-Tree. In the future she hopes to continue working towards a more sustainable future and preserving the natural environment.