Hello, I didn’t go to college right after high school like most people. I raised my kids first, spent years watching the world from a different angle, and somewhere along the way I figured out what I was put here to do. Now I’m finishing my bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources and Conservation at University of Phoenix with a clear mission: to become a wetland delineator protecting water quality in Minnesota and beyond. What pushed me toward higher education wasn’t some lightning-bolt moment—it was years of living near the Mississippi River headwaters in Staples and watching agricultural runoff change our waterways. I’d see the chemicals washing off fields after every rain, heading straight into the streams that feed the Mississippi. I kept asking myself, who’s standing up for these rivers? Who’s making sure we’re not destroying what we can’t get back? That question wouldn’t leave me alone. When I got the chance to work with Professor Kent Montgomery at Central Lakes College on GIS and ARC mapping projects for the Minnesota DNR, something clicked. We were documenting old forest status designations, and I realized this was real work that made a real difference. You map it, you document it, you protect it. That’s when I knew I needed the full education to do this right. The journey hasn’t been smooth. Last October I lost my son Tory, and that knocked me sideways. I had to withdraw from courses, couldn’t focus, couldn’t see the point of much of anything for a while. But grief has a way of clarifying what matters. My son’s death reminded me that if I’m going to be here, I better make it mean something. My personal values got shaped by being a mother first and a student second. I learned patience, persistence, and how to keep moving forward even when everything feels impossible. Those same values drive my career aspirations now. Becoming a wetland delineator means I’ll be the person who determines what areas need federal protection under the Clean Water Act. I’ll be documenting wetlands, analyzing soil and hydrology, identifying the boundaries that keep development from destroying critical habitat. It’s technical work, but it’s also advocacy—standing up for ecosystems that can’t speak for themselves. The community impact is personal because I’ve seen what happens when nobody speaks up. Agricultural runoff around Staples affects water quality all the way down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. Wetlands filter that pollution before it reaches our rivers, but only if we protect those wetlands in the first place. When I’m certified and working, I’ll be directly protecting the water systems that Central Minnesota communities depend on. Every wetland I help protect is filtering water, preventing flooding, and providing habitat. That’s service that matters. This scholarship will help me finish what I started. After my son’s death, I faced financial challenges from those course withdrawals, and money’s been tight. I’m close to the finish line, but I need help getting there. Once I have this degree, I’ll pursue wetland delineation certification and start working with environmental consulting firms or agencies like the DNR or EPA. I’m not the traditional student they probably had in mind when they designed these programs, but maybe that’s exactly why I’ll be good at this work. I’ve got perspective, determination, and a bone-deep understanding that protecting our natural resources isn’t abstract policy—it’s about the water our kids drink and the land we leave behind. That’s the impact I plan to make, one wetland at a time.

Hello, I didn’t take the traditional path to environmental science. I raised my children first, working to keep a roof over our heads while watching the Mississippi River flow past Staples, Minnesota, where I lived for years. Every spring, I’d see the water turn cloudy with agricultural runoff, carrying fertilizers and chemicals downstream. Every camping trip to White Dog Campgrounds reminded me how much I loved being outdoors, but also how fragile these systems really are. Eventually I realized I wanted to do more than just appreciate nature.-I wanted to protect it. Going back to school as a single parent in a low income household, hasn’t been easy. Between financial strain and life throwing curveballs, I’ve had to withdraw from courses and scramble to find ways to keep moving forward. But I haven’t quit because this work matters too much. My goal is to become a wetland delineator-someone who protects the areas that filter our water, sustain wildlife, and keep entire watersheds healthy. The hands-on work is what drives me. When I worked with Professor Kent Montgomery at Central Lakes College on GIS and ARCmapping projects for the Minnesota DNR, I wasn’t just looking at data on a screen. We were designating old forest status and mapping ecosystems that needed protection. I realize this is how conservation actually is-one parcel at a time, one delineation at a time, by people willing to show up and do the work. Living near the Mississippi headwaters has taught me that everything’s connected. What happens upstream affects communities hundreds of miles away. Protecting wet lands here means cleaner water in Iowa, healthier ecosystems in Missouri, and a more sustainable Gulf Coast. That’s the kind of tangible impact I want to make with my career-not just studying environmental problems, but being part of the solution on the ground. Irv Berman’s story resonates with me because he understood that hard work, curiosity, and love for the natural world can coexist with obstacles. Financial hardship and being a single parent doesn’t disqualify someone from making a difference. I might just be more determined.I’m committed to finishing this degree and building a career that protects the waterways and wetlands I’ve spent a lifetime caring about. Information and spreading information through community resources and any way we can helps. This scholarship would help me get there by lowering the stress level and help me concentrate on school and the kids.Thank you.

Hello, Growing up near the Mississippi River headwaters I’ve always been drawn to water. But it wasn’t until I started noticing the agricultural runoff clouding the river each spring that I realized how vulnerable our water systems really are. That’s what pushed me towards Natural Resources and Conservation .-I wanted to understand how to protect the waterways I grew up around. Working with Professor Kent Montgomery on GIS mapping projects for the Minnesota DNR showed me the practical side of conservation. We were designating old for status and mapping ecosystems and I realized this work actually matters. It’s not just about studying problems-it’s about creating solutions on the ground My goal is to become a wetland delineator protecting the areas that filter our water and sustain ecosystems. Every wet land I help preserve means cleaner water downstream, healthier habitats, and communities that can depend on their water sources. That’s the kind of tangible impact I want to make.-one watershed at a time. Thank you.

Hello, Living near the Mississippi River headwaters in Staples, Minnesota I’ve watched firsthand how our choices upstream affect everything downstream. Every spring, I see agricultural runoff turning the water murky carrying fertilizer and chemicals that don’t just disappear-they travel hundreds of miles impacting communities and ecosystems all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. That reality is what pushed me to pursue a degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in Natural Resources and Conservation. My goal is to become a wetland delineator. Sustainability isn’t just an abstract concept to me. It’s about recognizing that we’re all connected through systems like watersheds. What one farmer does in central Minnesota matters to someone in Louisiana. International cooperation is critical because pollution doesn’t respect borders-rivers cross state lines, air currents carry emissions globally, and climate impacts hit everyone differently, but hit everyone eventually. We need countries working together on emission standards and conservation practices because isolated efforts aren’t enough. The government can’t do it alone. Individual actions matter too. When I worked on a GIS mapping projects for the Minnesota DNR, I saw how small parcels of protected wetland add up to major water quality improvements. Every person who reduces chemical use, supports conservation policy, or pursuits a career in environmental protection contributes to the larger solution. My goal is to be part of that.-protecting waterways one delineation at a time, because sustainable water systems are foundational to everything else we’re trying to preserve. Thank you.

I will succeed in changing the world. Our wetlands are a source of biodiversity, habitat, and also a filter for our ground water. With this scholarship I will continue to learn laws , regulations, and conservation management to save these much needed areas. The pandemic we all had to go through was a eye opener for this unconventional student. Everything went online. A computer was only in libraries when I was in high school. It stopped my learning instantly. College was a dream that came true when my children were off and in colleges in the big city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I'm very proud of my boys. I was at a lose of what to do when they left. I knew I wanted to make a difference and help our environments that I taught my children in. They appreciate our planet and are aware of the destruction that can occur with ignorance and not taking care of the world they live in. One accomplished earned for me. I then realized I had time for me and my dream of saving our wetlands. I started college and 2nd semester the terrible coronavirus had us all isolated. I found a love of restoration of player pianos that kept me busy and learning a new skill. Now I've taken computer skill programs so I'll never be left behind in our technology driven world.In my time at Central Lakes College I worked with much of the DNR sectors. Forestry, fisheries, and my favorite, GPS Intelligence. We worked with ARC mapping and accomplished helping areas become Old forest status. My professor Kent Montgomery would be my role model as he is a biologist and taught and helped me continue to learn my skills of accomplishing my goal of Wetland Delineator. I feel blessed just being able to write to you today for this scholarship on my computer. Smile Thank you, Julia Burton A blessed college student of today changing the world one day at a time