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Amy Pursell

1,165

Bold Points

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Nominee

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Finalist

Bio

My life goal is to enter a career promoting new plant based products. I love the idea of hemp based anything. It can be used as an alternative to wood, concrete, cotton, plastic, paper products, and much more. It has a quick harvest time, and uses less pesticides and fertilizers than any other crop. Also, I've recently heard of using perennials, such as chestnuts, for more plant based products that require less annual planting. Ultimately, I would like to be part of the process of reducing the amount of pesticides and fertilizers on our foods and in our soils. They are toxic. The run off is causing an increase in algal blooms, which is a growing concern. I want to help provide a safer, healthier food supply & environment.

Education

Eureka College

Bachelor's degree program
2020 - Present
  • Majors:
    • Environmental Biology
  • Minors:
    • Accounting and Business/Management

Pensacola State College

Associate's degree program
2018 - 2020
  • Majors:
    • Natural Resources and Conservation, Other

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
    • Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
    • Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Environmental Services

    • Dream career goals:

      Company Founder

    • Sustainability Intern

      Eureka College
      2021 – Present3 years
    • Assist professors setting up & putting away labs & data entry

      Eureka College
      2020 – 20211 year
    • Student worker

      Pensacola State College
      2018 – 20202 years
    • Account specialist

      Mediacom
      2013 – 20163 years
    • Special needs aid

      Ottawa Township High School
      2009 – 20134 years

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Amplify Continuous Learning Grant
    Simply put, I want to save the planet and all that lives on it. Climate change is real and if things keep up at the current pace, we are all in trouble. It is my goal to work in the hemp industry. Hemp has the potential to revolutionize many industries. Hemp products such as construction materials, paper products, textiles and plastics can save tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, as well as sequestering carbon dioxide. Using hemp instead of wood for making paper would prevent billions of tons of chlorine from being spilled into our waterways. The benefits of hemp are almost unbelievable, from environmental importance to health and wellness benefits; it is a miracle plant. As a single mother, first generation college student, woman in science, the cards are stacked against me. I struggle financially every day, but I cannot give up. Continuing my education has become my highest priority alongside raising my daughters to be strong and capable. I have chosen to live in poverty to keep my education top priority. I work part-time at the college to gain experience in my field. The pay is awful and the hours are minimal, but I am allowed, and encouraged to keep to my studies first. This generous scholarship would go towards allowing me to stay at my relevant part time job instead of going to a gas station or retail store for employment. Scholarships such as this one allows me to be home with my daughters in the evenings, to have dinner with them around the table as we discuss our days. It allows me to keep my family my number one priority. It is not just my goal to save the planet through environmental studies, but also by raising children who see the value in our natural resources and understand the importance of them. This $500 is more than I make in an entire month at the college, sad but true, and would contribute to my overall living expenses, keeping my daughters in a safe home, and providing for their needs. Thank you for this opportunity.