Michael's Field Camp Fund
Donation protected
SOOOOO, when I started school 3 years ago and found that I was in LOVE with geology and science I was VERY unaware of the required field course that is required to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Geoscience. And it's expensive. I need help. A lot. Please take 5 minutes out of your day and read my tale and consider helping me out.
Hello! My name is Michael Ledbetter and I'm a 34 years old. I live in San Angelo, Texas. If you don't know where it is that's quite alright. I've heard that it's actually the largest town in the United States not located on an interstate. I joined the military in 1999 when I was 18 as a corpsman. After training I volunteered to work with the toughest group of guys I've ever met, the United States Marine Corps (yut). In 2003 my unit was part of the invasion of Iraq. I deployed back there in 2005 right before I seperated from active duty. I have never met a better group of people in my life. The friends that I made while serving alongside them in the states or in conflicts overseas will continue to be lifelong friends.
Not ever having any aspirations to attend college I set my sights upon learning to tattoo. I did that for 5-6 years and again met some amazing people along the way. It was always an honor to be trusted by someone to do something that they will wear on their body for literally their whole life.
On November 04, 2010 I became a father and my whole life literally changed. Autumn Jane Ledbetter. While I am no longer with Autumn's mother she pushed me to try to get into college so that I would be able to have a more stable lifestyle for our daughter. At first I just dismissed the idea. The more I thought about it and the time I was away from my daughter started to wear on my consious and in August 2012 I quit tattooing and started attending Angelo State University as a Freshman. I registered for a geology class not know what to expect out of it but knowing that I had to take a science class. It just sounded cooler than geography. After my first field trip to Big Bend I was hooked. I was going to major in the geosciences. It has been such an amazing 3 years of learning and growth. During that time I've been a teaching assistant in numerous geology classes that I have previously taken. Along with being a past officer in the geology club on campus I've volunteered for numerous outreach activities that our program does in the community. My graduation date is next year during the fall is everything goes as expected.
While in school the GI Bill has paid for all my school and books and has even provided a small amount of money each month to help pay for my rent. Unfortunaltey for me the VA does NOT pay for out of state tuition for a class of this type. I'm currently researching grants and scholarships that I would be eligable for. I'm going to apply to a hydrology field camp held every summer at Western Michigan University. Since hydrology is the direction that I wish to continue to study this is probably the best field camp in the country for me. If you would like to look at the site for the field camp copy this site and paste it in your url.
https://wmich.edu/geology/academics/hydrogeology-field-course
ANY help at all would be much appreciated. The biggest part of this is probably the application fee that needs to be attached with my submission form. Only $600. My overall amount that I'm trying to collect covers course fees only. I'm going to have to find housing for the dates of July 5th - Aug 12th but that's a whole different story. I try to NOT SUCK as a person and if you have ever met me you can attest to that. I always try to help out other people and "pay it forward". I've honestly never asked for money and I'm a pretty proud and stubborn person when it comes to stuff like this. Typing this up has probably been one of the hardest things that I've done in a while. Even if you aren't in the financial situation to help me reach my goal please pass this along. I REALLY need help. Thank you for taking time to even read this far. That in itself means a lot.
Hello! My name is Michael Ledbetter and I'm a 34 years old. I live in San Angelo, Texas. If you don't know where it is that's quite alright. I've heard that it's actually the largest town in the United States not located on an interstate. I joined the military in 1999 when I was 18 as a corpsman. After training I volunteered to work with the toughest group of guys I've ever met, the United States Marine Corps (yut). In 2003 my unit was part of the invasion of Iraq. I deployed back there in 2005 right before I seperated from active duty. I have never met a better group of people in my life. The friends that I made while serving alongside them in the states or in conflicts overseas will continue to be lifelong friends.
Not ever having any aspirations to attend college I set my sights upon learning to tattoo. I did that for 5-6 years and again met some amazing people along the way. It was always an honor to be trusted by someone to do something that they will wear on their body for literally their whole life.
On November 04, 2010 I became a father and my whole life literally changed. Autumn Jane Ledbetter. While I am no longer with Autumn's mother she pushed me to try to get into college so that I would be able to have a more stable lifestyle for our daughter. At first I just dismissed the idea. The more I thought about it and the time I was away from my daughter started to wear on my consious and in August 2012 I quit tattooing and started attending Angelo State University as a Freshman. I registered for a geology class not know what to expect out of it but knowing that I had to take a science class. It just sounded cooler than geography. After my first field trip to Big Bend I was hooked. I was going to major in the geosciences. It has been such an amazing 3 years of learning and growth. During that time I've been a teaching assistant in numerous geology classes that I have previously taken. Along with being a past officer in the geology club on campus I've volunteered for numerous outreach activities that our program does in the community. My graduation date is next year during the fall is everything goes as expected.
While in school the GI Bill has paid for all my school and books and has even provided a small amount of money each month to help pay for my rent. Unfortunaltey for me the VA does NOT pay for out of state tuition for a class of this type. I'm currently researching grants and scholarships that I would be eligable for. I'm going to apply to a hydrology field camp held every summer at Western Michigan University. Since hydrology is the direction that I wish to continue to study this is probably the best field camp in the country for me. If you would like to look at the site for the field camp copy this site and paste it in your url.
https://wmich.edu/geology/academics/hydrogeology-field-course
ANY help at all would be much appreciated. The biggest part of this is probably the application fee that needs to be attached with my submission form. Only $600. My overall amount that I'm trying to collect covers course fees only. I'm going to have to find housing for the dates of July 5th - Aug 12th but that's a whole different story. I try to NOT SUCK as a person and if you have ever met me you can attest to that. I always try to help out other people and "pay it forward". I've honestly never asked for money and I'm a pretty proud and stubborn person when it comes to stuff like this. Typing this up has probably been one of the hardest things that I've done in a while. Even if you aren't in the financial situation to help me reach my goal please pass this along. I REALLY need help. Thank you for taking time to even read this far. That in itself means a lot.
Organizer
Doc Ledbetter
Organizer
San Angelo, TX