11/19/07 Former Lancer Lands "Whale Of A Job!" New University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, and former Sunny Hills Water Polo player, Adriel Husereau has lined up a whale of a job.

Husereau, (SHHS Class Of 2002,) who also graduated in May from University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources with a bachelor's degree in animal science, was hired as a trainer for Shamu the killer whale at Sea World in San Diego. She started her job this month.

Husereau, a native of Fullerton, Calif., said she didn't plan on going back to her home state, but when Sea World responded to her inquiry for a job, it was too good to pass up.

"This is my dream job," she said.

Sea World officials told Husereau she is the first person from UNL they have hired.

To qualify for the job, Husereau had to pass a rigorous swim test, then audition before a crowd of about 2,000 at the Sea World auditorium. She was one of only four people out of 120 to pass the swim test.

The test included carrying two 50-pound buckets of water without spilling a drop; a 150-foot underwater swim; a 30-foot dive to pick up a 2-pound weight; swimming 250 feet in two minutes; a 6-foot "show" dive; and pulling herself out of a pool onto her feet without touching her knees to the ground, "which is harder than it sounds."

If she faltered on even one of the steps, she would have been disqualified.

Husereau, a water polo player in high school, said she knew what the requirements for the job were and began training last October. She got a personal trainer and did strenuous workouts along with a lot of swimming. She also lost 40 pounds to meet the required weight to become Shamu's trainer.

Passing the swim test didn't mean the hard work was over. Next she had to audition by reciting a memorized script to the crowd, informing them about killer whales.

Then, she had to perform a choreographed dance which had been demonstrated to her twice just 10 minutes earlier.

"It was a mix between a chicken dance and the Macarena," she said. "I think it was to see if I would get embarrassed in front the crowd."

Sea World officials were impressed enough to give Husereau a formal interview before two curators. She and one other person were hired. Husereau will work exclusively with the whale.

Husereau credits her time at CASNR with helping her determine her career direction. Her adviser, animal science professor Bryan Reiling, helped her pick the right courses that made her realize she wanted to work with exotic animals, she said.

Sue Voss, CASNR coordinator of student development and events, helped her get an internship at Lincoln Children's Zoo. A zoo employee helped her get an internship at Sea Life Park in Hawaii.

CASNR, she said, "really helps you get focused on getting real-world experience."

At Sea World, Husereau will spend one year preparing to work with the killer whale before even getting into the water with one.

The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is a division of the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.