Outreach is an integral part of being a scientist. Effective outreach involves taking science outside the ivory tower and helps ensure that our work is accessible to all members of the community. A critical component of outreach is working with those who may not have the same opportunities to engage in science as we have or who are from groups that haven’t had the same chances to be full participants in the scientific community. In addition, for me, outreach is a great opportunity to share my passion for my work and a whole lot of fun! In recognition of my work doing and building capacity for outreach, I was awarded Penn State’s 2016 Intercollege Graduate Student Outreach Achievement Award, which was a great honor!