Savannah Haines

2017 | John Wright Memorial Scholarship

Education: University of Maine

Pursued Degree: Forestry; Environmental Horticulture minor

Expected to graduate: March 2018

Currently, I am a senior at the University of Maine majoring in forestry and minoring in environmental horticulture. I am a strong academic, with many extracurricular activities. I pride myself on doing well in school, but I understand that academics is not everything so I am trying to improve myself professionally and socially. A few examples of non-academic activities I participate in include the University of Maine’s student chapter of the Society of American Foresters, the University of Maine’s School of Forester Resources Community Council, Xi Sigma Pi Honor Society, and the women’s group Supporting Women in Forestry Today.

While a student at the University, I had the opportunity to become a certified arborist, as well as a certified wild land firefighter. Upon graduating from the University of Maine, I would like to go to graduate school for my Masters of Science in plant pathology to pursue my ultimate goal of becoming a forest pathologist. I believe that trees are fascinating creatures and that they are critical resources for every living creature. By studying pathology, I will be able to research and observe the effect that different species of bacteria, fungi and pathogens have on trees. By learning about these tree pests, I will be able to better understand how to save and care for sick trees not only on a local scale, but on a global scale as well.