Egypt's Study Abroad to Ecuador

Hi, my name is Egypt. I'm an honors student with Murray State University in western Kentucky. As part of the program, I am required to study abroad at least once. There's only one problem with that: I don't have the funds. My mom was recently in a car accident and needed brain surgery. She currently receives disability, but our combined income is only about $2000 a month, with a large part of it going toward insurance payments from the accident. I've already sold several things in order to pay for bills and other costs. We are below the poverty line, and our house is up for foreclosure. In short, we have absolutely no money to spare.

I am a senior psychology minor with a minor in biology, and I will be graduating with honors this May. At the same time I'm trying to apply for graduate school, which is an added expense on top of everything else. The only requirement I have left toward the completion of my degree is that I have to study abroad. The program I've chosen is a month-long program studying Biology in Ecuador. The total cost is $4000. On the program, I'll be taking two classes: Theory of Evolution and Biological Diversity.

Throughout my time at Murray State, I have done multiple research projects. I presented a research project, "Mixed and Same Race Couples: How People See Them," at the Kentucky Psychological Association spring academic conference, and this semester, I'm writing my senior honors thesis on use of mental health services in college students. I received the Office of Multicultural Affairs Distinguished Academic Achievement Award for maintaining a 3.5-3.99 GPA. Along with that, I am involved in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, as both a peer mentor and a leadership team member. I also serve as treasurer for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and am a member of Alpha Chi and Psi Chi, two honors societies at Murray State.

I understand that there are many other people with causes better than mine, but I'm simply out of options. I don't have any other way of paying for this study abroad program, and without it, I can't graduate. I've taken out every grant and loan I can, and since I am studying in the summer, I can't use any merit scholarships. The only scholarships I'm eligible for, I've applied for. Please, please if you can spare any amount, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your time, and for donating.