Send Us to NZ for Steph's PhD!

My name is Stephanie Junior, a recent graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder with an International Bachelors degree in Geological Sciences with honors. My husband, Adam, and I are hardworking pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps kind of people who have a difficult time asking for help, but we’ve found ourselves in a position where it has become necessary. We are trying to make a big move forward (and literally to the other side of the planet) in the pursuit of knowledge and to contribute to the understanding of how to make the Earth a more habitable place, not only for ourselves but for future generations.

New Zealand, in its relatively short history, has always been a frontrunner for progressive ideas that can help us to create a better future on Earth. I am honored to say that I have been granted entry into a Doctorate program at Otago University in NZ to study Geochemistry and further academic understanding of some of our most precious mineral resources. For the next few years in my graduate studies, and in the many more that follow in my professional career, I will be dedicated to understanding some of Earth’s greatest mysteries, which if better understood, could be directly applied to more efficient and less harmful extraction and use of resources necessary for an endless list of technological advances for the improvement of life worldwide—including a move toward clean energy. The more we understand about our world the better we can protect it from our own activities, and with a growing population and ever-progressing human way of life, we need to learn how to make the most of our resources without damaging our planet beyond repair. I feel strongly that our big push needs to be toward forwarding understanding and creative problem solving, which is what I aim to do in an academic venue while Adam pursues sustainable living techniques and the greener ways of daily life.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been offered scholarship to cover my foreign student tuition fees and a stipend from the university to help keep us housed and fed until Adam can find employment abroad, but we have to get there first. As one may expect, a move like this takes more than good intentions and stubborn fortitude, and while Adam and I have been saving all we can since the conception of this idea, there are only so many working hours in a day and time is quickly running out. Our departure is slated for mid December and expenses are piling up, which is why we are asking for help. We know that not everyone who even takes the time to read this will be in a position to donate, but we sincerely appreciate each effort – every little bit adds up to something quite significant to us!

We are so grateful for everyone’s support, we couldn’t ask for more caring family and friends. So from the bottom of our hearts –Thank You!