Prosthetics in Quito, Ecuador

Last October (2017), my academic advisor at Colorado State University sent out an email detailing an incredible opportunity for students to participate in a Biomedical Engineering study-abroad experience, titled Prosthetic Innovation in Ecuador, in May, 2018. I jumped at the opportunity, and after filling out the application, writing a personal essay , and acquiring a letter of recommendation, I was accepted into the program in December! In my personal essay, I outline exactly what this experience would mean to me. I have a passion for Biomedical Engineering, and an even greater passion for being a part of the movement to offer healthcare solutions to everyone around the globe, regardless of socioeconomic status and location. I paired my first major, Biomedical Engineering, with my second major, Mechanical Engineering, because of my specific interest in prosthetics. In college, I have been able to gain experience in many different areas, including working in engineering research laboratories as well as interning in the medical device industry, and running the Biomedical Engineering Society at CSU. This opportunity offers an entirely new learning experience to me, as it will allow me to not only gain hands-on experience with prosthetics but will also give me the chance to apply my knowledge of engineering to a non-profit environment and work directly with patients in need. This is the perfect opportunity get my foot in the door working on healthcare solutions in low-resource areas, and is an incredible start to my dream career. And now for the hardest part - though it is a short-term opportunity (8 days!), this study-abroad will end up costing a little over half of what tuition costs for an entire semester at CSU. My contributions to the cost: --> I work part-time while I attend university, and I hope to contribute $1500 to this opportunity. This will cover the flight, insurance, and additional costs associated with the travel. What I hope to gain from this fundraiser: I hope to fundraise the costs of the Program Charge ($1,593.50), the Instructional Costs ($970.00), and the fees ($500) associated with this experience and this campaign, for a total of about $3,000.  With your help, I have the opportunity to be involved in a unique experience that aligns exactly with my career goals. I cannot adequately put into words how much your support would mean to me, and I want to thank you in advance for helping me make this dream come true! Sincerest thanks, Jackie