Marine Biology Dreams 2015

Dear Supporter,

My name is Attia Gray and I am a student at Hammond Academy of Science and Technology. I am writing this letter in an effort to seek financial aid to attend the Discovery Hall Programs Marine Science Course at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The cost to attend this program is $2050. This is a 4-week program and during this month I will be studying various topics relating to marine science. This is not a summer camp, but an actual class in marine science for high school students. The cost covers room, board, tuition, lab fees and field trips. Students in the class receive a total of over 150 contact hours, which is more than I receive in a class in one school year. There are weekly tests, laboratory exercises, field exercises and trips, lectures and a research project due at the end of the program. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is a non-profit educational and research facility (www.disl.org) and this cost is very low compared to similar programs for high school students.

Being able to attend this program would help me to explore career opportunities and prepare to attend college to study for a career in Marine Biology. This program is a great opportunity to help me prepare for my future.

Your financial donation would be greatly appreciated in helping me achieve my goals.

Any contribution you can make to help me achieve my goal to attend this program will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your consideration and thank you for helping to make my dream a reality.

Sincerely,

Attia Gray
Discovery Hall Programs Marine Science Course at The Dauphin Island Sea Lab


STILL REACHING FOR THE STARS IN 2014!  My wish list includes:  lifegraud training, marine biology summer camp @ Texas A&M, GEMS 2014 College Tour, Youth About Business Camp in New York, more sailboat and scuba diving training. 

I would like to thank you in advance for your well wishes and support!


DREAMS DO COME TRUE! For two years now I have been doing educational programs with The Shedd Aquarium. With the dream of one day being chosen to participate in their High School Marine Biology Program. Well that day has come. I am now on the other side of the application, essays, projects and interviews. This summer I will be doing research at The Shedd as well as traveling to the Bahamas with The Shedd. While in the Bahamas I will live on The Coral Reef II on international waters, diving and researching. I feel so blessed! Thank you all for your support!


Interest: philanthropy, marine biology, swimming, camping, skating, boating, reading, golfing, traveling,

Since I can remember I have had a love for water. I started taking swim lessons at the age of three; before long I was top of my class. For the past four years I have swam competitively. My other love is nature and its' creatures. Most of my childhood I was sure that I was going to be a veterinarian. However, that all changed in 7th grade. I was on a family field trip with my mother at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago when some thing started to click in my head. As we watched the dolphin show, I looked up at my mother and asked her what do I need to study in college to work in a place like this or Sea World. I will never forget she looked at me and said "Why don't you ask some of the people working here." I asked many of the staff while on my field trip, most of their responses were "Marine Biology". That was the day I told my mother that I can combine my love of water and animals and become a Marine Biologist.

Doing this work will help to make the world a better place for God's creatures which ultimately makes the world a better place for us all.

Wish list 2013: lifeguard course, scuba lessons, sailboat training, golf equipment