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People Profiles
Eleanor Hines
- Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
- Major: Environmental Science, Toxicology emphasis
Why Western?
When I began applying to colleges, I knew that I wanted to major in Environmental Science right from the start. So when I asked people in the environmental field where I should look, every single person recommended Huxley College. I had already fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest in high school when I went on a two week backpacking trip in the North Cascades and climbed Mt. Baker for the first time. Even though Bellingham is a long way from Philadelphia, it only made sense to make the move across the country.
Prepared for the Future
Participating in the Air and Waste Management Association's International Environmental Challenge was a great experience for me. This competition made me realize how well Huxley has prepared me for the real world. At this competition, I was on a team with three other undergraduate students with various backgrounds. The problem presented in the competition was not directly applicable to any of our majors, however we found it astonishingly easy to learn and apply new topics as necessary because of the tools Huxley had given us. I feel fully competent, thanks to my experience at Huxley, especially after beating the competing teams which were mostly made up of graduate students with much more experience, who kept asking who the engineer on our team was (to many people's astonishment, there wasn't one.)
Learning in Costa Rica
One of my favorite memories of Western is the RICA trip to Costa Rica through Huxley. This five-week study abroad experience enriched my educational experience in ways I had not imagined. Working with one of the top botanists of Costa Rica, Alberto Herrera, was an experience I will never forget. As he introduced us to each plant by the shape of the leaves and color of the sap, he showed us a deeper appreciation for the environment and how unique everything is. From Huxley professor Troy Abel, I also learned the importance of communication between cultures, as well as between the fields of science and policy. I really appreciated how he arranged for us students to have the opportunity to give back to the communities we emerged ourselves in. I hope to return to Costa Rice someday soon and to continue to practice voluntourism in my future travels.
Outside the Classroom
Some of my hobbies include playing rugby for the Western Flames, training for my next marathon, kayaking in the San Juan Islands, and climbing Mt. Baker. I have been an active volunteer member for Surfrider's Northwest Straits Chapter, taking water quality samples for the Blue Water Task Force Program and organizing the upcoming benefit concert. As a volunteer at the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, I conduct water quality tests, train high school interns, help with riparian restoration work parties, and work with NSEA's online database. I am also an active member of Students for Sustainable Foods, an A.S. club that promotes organic, local, and fair trade foods on campus.
Life in Bellingham
I love the sense of community and sense of acceptance that Bellingham has. It's just the right size to always run into familiar faces. I also love how environmentally-minded the entire city is. The music scene is also great.
After Western
After graduation, I plan on holding a job in the field of environmental science until I am sure of what I want my studies to focus on in graduate school, which I plan to apply to shortly after graduation.