Some people say “be the change you want to see in the world.” Well, some of us take that literally, like a 20,000 square foot garden literally. I’ve always deeply respected my peers who dedicate themselves to the promotion of an ideal, but that’s never been enough for me. When I found out that Texas-Oklahoma Circle K International’s (CKI) District Project was promoting Monarch Watch’s mission (to raise awareness for and influence the decline of the Monarch Butterfly population) there was no way I was just going to be posting on Facebook and handing out flyers. I was going to build a Monarch Butterfly Garden on the Texas A&M campus. I immediately dove into the project. I contacted campus services, discussed grant options with the Treasurer, and researched typical Monarch garden constructions. Before I knew it I had built a network across Facility Services, the Aggie Green Fund, the Office of Sustainability, and TX-OK CKI. Later that year, when I discovered that another student was also building a butterfly garden, I discussed the project with him, and we decided to collaborate. He had completed most of the paper work during the previous year but was no longer a student, so I managed both of our projects: plants, promotion, and construction. A newspaper article, phone app, and $10,000+ later, we had a beautiful Aggie Monarch Butterfly Garden. I’ve never been one to shy away from massive endeavors, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. The larger the project, the more interesting and fantastic people I meet along the way. For me, meeting new people and discovering the unique way they perceive the world is the most beautiful part of life. What can I say; I’m a sociable engineer. Weird, right?
Listed skills include Engineering, Organizational Leadership, Manufacturing, Project Coordination, and 45 others.