Hi! My name is Abby, and I'm a junior at Western Carolina University pursuing a B.S. in biology with minors in natural resource management and chemistry (my current GPA is 4.0). My goal is to go to vet school and become an avian and exotics veterinarian, ideally working with wildlife. In the past, I have been involved with George Mason University's Washington Youth Summit on the Environment, both as a in high school as a delegate and for the past two summers when I went back and served as a junior faculty advisor (see some of the pictures). While I was working at GMU over the summer, I learned about an incredible opportunity George Mason offers. After applying, I have been invited to attend a semester-away program at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation next semester, Spring 2027! Only selecting 20 students, the program I was accepted into (Endangered Species Conservation) will allow me to gain valuable hands-on experience directly with endangered species being researched by the Smithsonian Institution, and will require me to do a 5-week independent research project with a mentor and present my results to the greater scientific community. More information about the school and the courses can be found here: https://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/undergraduate-residential-semester-away-programs-2/endangered-species-conservation/

Attending SMSC would be a game-changer for my future. I would meet and work with leading conservation professionals and expand my network, gain more insight into the process of research and publication, work with a variety of endangered species, and greatly enhance my eventual vet school application. This opportunity is frankly priceless. However, all things must have a price, and participating in this program will cost me around $20,000. Thanks to the new CPoS rules limiting my ability to use any of my federal financial aid on this semester, I will be fully reliant on scholarships, grants, and what my family and I can scrounge together in order to afford this. Unfortunately, my mother owns a small local pharmacy in my hometown, and my family is not in a financial position to allow me to attend. Any amount, no matter how small, will help me reach my goal. Thank you so so so much for helping me in my educational journey :)