In Their Words: Michael MacDonald, James Stuart Chanley Award

June 04, 2015

michael-macdonald.jpg

Michael MacDonald, a student in the division's Environmental Studies department, received the James Stuart Chanley Award in Environmental Studies.

Congratulations Michael!

Department: Environmental Studies

What Scholarship did you receive? James Stuart Chanley Award in Environmental Studies

What year are you (1st year, 3rd year)? 3rd year

College: Eight

Where do you call home? Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out?

World­renowned agroecology program

What is your field of focus?

Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz?

Empower my community to take control of their diet and their environment by teaching people to grow their own food, sustainably.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here?

The last day of Origins of Farming, when Professor Gifford­-Gonzalez made some extremely inspiring closing comments about how the direction agriculture has taken lately is highly concerning for many
reasons, but that the future is in our hands and we can affect positive change.

How will this scholarship impact your academics/research?

It will alleviate my cost of living expenses, allowing me to focus more intensely on my passion for learning about science and sustainable agriculture. I'm deeply grateful for this award, and I look forward to carrying on James Stuart Chanley's legacy through my studies and community­ building efforts.

See Also