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Marissa Skoney

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Bio

My name is Marissa Skoney. My life goal is to leave this world knowing that I've been able to do my part in making it a better place. I would like to accomplish owning multiple eco-friendly companies which not only help the sustainability of the environment but also the quality of peoples lives.

Education

Grand Valley State University

Bachelor's degree program
2023 - 2027
  • Majors:
    • Sustainability Studies

L'Anse Creuse High School North

High School
2019 - 2023
  • GPA:
    3.8
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Environmental Services

    • Dream career goals:

    • Line Worker

      Einstein Bros Bagels
      2023 – Present1 year
    • I do the taxes, filing, and accounting

      Dr. James Skoney Dentistry
      2022 – Present2 years
    • Baker

      Crumbl Cookie
      2022 – 2022

    Sports

    Softball

    Club
    2008 – 202113 years

    Soccer

    Varsity
    2010 – 202010 years

    Awards

    • Captain

    Research

    • Sociology

      I do this research on my own time so that one day I can find away to help the homeless population in the U.S. — I research how people become homeless, how to help people that become homeless, how to get homeless persons healthy food, what low cost and high in cholesterol foods can do to ones health, and in general how to get people off the streets.
      2021 – Present
    • Sociology

      I do this at my house — Researching the information so that I can write an essay on it for myself. I want to become more knowledgeable on how minorities are affected by food deserts, prices on healthy foods, and transportation to grocery stores.
      2021 – Present
    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

      I do research on my own time. I want to learn more about sustainability so I can help create more sustainable products for the future. — I researched how Hemp can make biodegradable plastics.
      2021 – Present

    Arts

    • My Own Buisness

      painting
      I sell my own art at local art fairs. The art I sell are paintings and clay models.
      2021 – Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      I Volunteered 40 + hours at a local flower shop — I cut and arranged flowers.
      2021 – 2021

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Entrepreneurship

    Ray W Bausick Green Industry Memorial Scholarship
    I’ve always been a very passionate and optimistic person. I see problems and I don’t want to look for someone to blame. I want to come up with a solution so that everyone can go on with their lives a little bit happier than before. I have come up with solutions that feed off each other and I can't just let them sit in my brain collecting dust as another mindless thought. I need to leave this world knowing it's better than I came into it. My ideas for improving green infrastructure first came to light when examining the lake I live next to; Lake St. Clair. It is contaminated with E. coli because a waste basin overflows into the lake when there are heavy rains, making runoff water the number one cause of pollution to the lake. Infrastructure to the basin can be done but I like to think out of the box. If solutions are to be progressive, ideas need to connect and feed off each other and therefore aid multiple disparities at once. Otherwise, we are inefficiently using our resources. Green solutions that can reach multiple areas of crisis are permeable pavement, hemp infrastructure, and Tree Guilds along sidewalks. Permeable pavement is a type of porous platform that sucks water into the ground, unlike normal pavers where water runs off the surface. I first thought of this pavement because in my area roads are especially affected by cold weather and permeable pavement is known for its cold weather benefits. Additionally, its benefits are attractive to midwest states because of its long-lasting life and the reduced need for road salts and plowing during the winter. Introducing this pavement around lakes such as the one I live by would not only reduce runoff but also allow for an increased pavement life. Next, if hemp trees were planted around Lake St. Clair they would thrive because they feed off the nutrient-rich conditions that create E. coli. They would absorb the bacteria that are harming the lake. Additionally, the extra hemp around the lake can be used to make biodegradable plastics. So while using the money for hemp, the county will be getting money back from the biodegradable plastic production. The hemp can also be turned into hemp oil that could be used to power cars. This would not only help the environment but also help the community by lowering gas prices. My final solution includes tree guilds. Tree guilds are made up of fruit trees and other plants such as beans and strawberries. They feed off each other so that very few chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers are needed. If planted along sidewalks the runoff will be collected by the extra foliage, instead of making its way to the lake. These could be planted in specific communities such as gentrified areas, as many residents in these parts cannot afford or don’t have access to healthy foods. This can then aid communities in aspects of health care, as having access to healthy foods causes a decrease in illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. Incorporating these ideas into the communities could immensely impact the course of the green industry. This is because these green solutions could be tailored to each community's needs so that individuals aren’t stuck in one fits all scenarios. This green infrastructure is only looking at water pollution, but if more ideas were to come to light like this -that not only help the environment but also the community- then the way the green industry is looked at could be changed forever.