I would like to offer you and the Michigan Garden Club my wholehearted gratitude for my selection to receive the Hazel Wirick Scholarship this year. As everyone knows quite well by now, this year has been very tough for us all. For me specifically, having to delay my research (i.e., my graduation date), coupled with uncertainties about long-term income, I have been struggling to find ways to keep my motivation and drive during these trying times. Receiving this award serves as a reminder that what I’m doing is indeed important and valued by people other than those directly involved in the research and has helped bolster my confidence in my academic pursuits. I learned about my nomination for the award at a time when my grading responsibilities were stressfully high due to all online coursework, and my research was at a standstill, but the recognition and piece of mind that came along with my receipt of the award have proven invaluable in giving me the mental wherewithal to push through. In a few weeks, I will be fully vaccinated, and we will be getting back to full research capacity in our lab, after this year of significant reductions. The contribution made by you and the MGC has genuinely helped me get to a point from which I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you so very much!
Sincerely,
Alex Kolstoe
Read more about Alex and his fascinating research here
Asian Jumping Worms