Research and creativity projects with faculty mentors, earning credits off campus, and partner programs that lead to graduate and professional degrees: Our students take their liberal arts learning at Mary Washington beyond the classroom.
The lovely Rappahannock River that flows through Fredericksburg has been a place of recreation, inspiration, and education. Over the years, UMW faculty and students from various UMW departments–from Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, to Geography and Spanish–have partnered with Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR), a local non-profit group whose mission is “to be the voice and active force for a healthy and scenic Rappahannock River.”
This fall semester 2020, Environmental Science major Heather Strother is interning with FOR. In Heather’s own words:
I have been absolutely ecstatic interning at Friends of the Rappahannock because of the inspiration and gratitude for the river that flows through this group of people. Whether it be advocacy, education, or restoration, everyone has shown me a multitude of ways to give back to the community and inevitably make our community stronger. Between those I’ve worked with at FOR and my professors in the Environmental Science department, they have helped me greatly understand the connection between humans and the natural world with a strong scientific background. The knowledge I’ve acquired over the years has helped me determine what career path I would like to take and has given me the ability to make my passion for environmental education a reality. FOR creates new river stewards every chance they get because of their commitment to the environment, and that value is something I hope to keep and spread throughout my life as well.
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