For many, a GLA program is a life-changing summer experience. For one alumnus, it was the catalyst for a full-tuition college scholarship, a journey across three continents, a prestigious environmental research award and ultimately, a return to where it all began.
Meet Tyler Noll – GLA Alumni turned GLA Program Mentor.
Tyler’s story is a masterclass in what happens when you say “yes” to adventure, stay true to your passions and allow the world to become your classroom.
Ironically, his passion for the ocean didn’t start in Asia, it started in the Caribbean.
“As crazy as it sounds, it was actually the waters of the Dominican Republic that first piqued my interest in the marine world,” he reflects. Visiting the DR with his family at age 13, a snorkeling excursion changed everything. “I still remember how absolutely mind-blowing life in and among the coral reefs was. I swam with rays, sharks, and an abundance of fish species.”
But returning to the same reefs year after year, he witnessed a devastating shift. The vibrant colors were fading and the marine life was thinning. He was witnessing the global epidemic of coral bleaching firsthand.
Determined to understand how to stop this loss, he signed up for the GLA Thailand: Island Marine Excursion in 2022.
While in Thailand, one moment stood out above the rest: learning to scuba dive.
“Scuba had always felt like something reserved for experienced adults,” he admits. “I could never possibly learn in a few days how to do something so amazing yet so serious.”
But the GLA program mentors and the local dive center staff refused to let doubt hold the students back. Together, they fostered an environment of empowerment. Learning to dive didn’t just teach him how to breathe underwater, it taught him independence. He left Thailand with the profound realization that he could truly do anything he put his mind to.
Returning home from Thailand, he was fueled by two distinct realizations: a deep passion for environmental stewardship and an insatiable desire to see the world.
He didn’t waste any time. He applied for the Batten Honors College at Virginia Wesleyan University, earning a full-tuition scholarship. While he initially declared a biology major, a study abroad experience in Morocco changed his trajectory. Learning environmental philosophy and policy from international professors showed him that science alone couldn’t solve the world’s problems. He shifted his major to Environmental Studies to focus on real-world, multidimensional solutions.
Armed with the independence he discovered in Thailand, he studied abroad three times during college, exploring the natural world across three continents:
- Morocco: Navigating the vast expanses of the Sahara.
- Chile: Trekking through the Andes mountains, Patagonia and the Atacama desert.
- New Zealand: Studying volcanoes, rivers and protected parks.
- And so much more!
Every time he returned to Virginia, he paid it forward, serving as a student mentor for local public city schools to share what he had learned abroad.
In 2026, his dedication culminated in a massive achievement: winning the Ryan Environmental Prize for Excellence in Research.
The inspiration for his award-winning project came from a heartbreak he witnessed while traveling. In his travels, he saw severe food insecurity, vividly remembering children in Morocco searching for food in restaurant trash cans while his own university wasted food daily.
When he returned to his home campus, he noticed the exact same disconnect: hungry individuals on the street just minutes away from campus dining halls throwing away food.
Instead of looking the other way, he took action. He partnered with campus leaders and a local commercial composting facility to design a sustainable framework for his university.
“The idea was to turn a linear system of waste into a circular system to connect sustainability and community,” he explains. “Hopefully, in a few semesters, a campus garden will be fueled by campus compost and can support local food donation centers.”
This summer, his journey comes full circle. He is returning to the Dominican Republic, the very place that first inspired his love for the ocean, not as a tourist, and not as a student, but as a GLA Program Mentor.
He has clear goals for the leadership style he wants to bring to his students, heavily inspired by the GLA mentors who guided him five years ago:
- Openness: “The first few days of travel are the hardest. My mentors were always open emotionally and communicatively, making me feel comfortable enough to share any questions.”
- Trust: Having mentored in public schools, he knows that establishing a strong, trusted bond is key to helping students step out of their comfort zones.
- Responsibility: “My mentors had this general energy of being responsible, careful leaders. That comfort level is key when navigating difficult situations that can quickly become overwhelming.”
Looking back, he knows how intimidating that first flight can be. If he could sit next to his teenage self on the flight home from Thailand in 2022, his message would be simple: Be bold.
“Too many young people make the mistake of conforming to unrealistic or unsustainable expectations… If you follow the crowd, you’ll only end up in the same place as everyone else, and there is no adventure in that. Many thought I was insane trying to complete a degree while traveling more than three times abroad. Parents, and even professors, warned me against it. However, those challenges are exactly what shaped me.”
To the students heading out on their very first GLA program this summer, he offers a final piece of mentor wisdom:
“Don’t let fear and anxiety dictate your actions. Everyone experiences some uncertainty when starting a new adventure—even mentors! Feeling nervous is completely normal, and we are there every step of the way to help you adjust. This experience will be transformative for you; it is supposed to be. So face it head-on, and let’s work together to better ourselves and better the world.”
A huge thank you to Tyler for sharing his incredible journey with us! We are so proud of everything you have accomplished and cannot wait to see the impact you make in the Dominican Republic this summer.
Stay tuned, everyone! Be sure to check back in after the summer to see how Tyler’s experience as a GLA program mentor went and hear all about the adventures of his very first cohort of students.
Interested in Tyler’s Journey with GLA? Check out the programs below!
Please note that the Thailand: Island Marine Excursion program mentioned above is not running this summer, but you can explore these fantastic options instead:
- If you want Marine Adventure: Bali: Education & Marine Adventure
- If you want Thailand: Thailand: Elephants, Education & Cultural Discovery
- Where Tyler will be a Mentor this summer: Dominican Republic: Global Health Initiative
