Michael is a sophomore at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, pursuing degrees in History and Journalism and Mass Communication. Exploring the outdoors has been a part of his life from an early age: he spent most of his childhood around horses and earned his Eagle Scout at 16. Some experiences that have taken him on numerous excursions in the outdoors, including hiking along the Appalachian Trail, backpacking more than one hundred miles in New Mexico, canoeing in Canada and Minnesota, and SCUBA diving in the Florida Keys. He is also an avid runner and loves music, in particular playing bass and guitar with friends when he has the chance.