In 2007, a young, graduating senior from Carmel High school was contemplating her future and thinking of ways to clean up the atmosphere and the earth beneath it by treating polluted waste water. Lizzy Eichorn’s interest and exceptional grades had earned her a scholarship award with the CVWC, and she was off to bigger things.
She ultimately majored in biology at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, but before that, she studied abroad and was particularly interested in waste water, and what happens when cities outgrow their treatment plants. This led her to Ecuador, the tuna fishing capitol of the world—the home of Starkist, and the devastating practices of some fisheries. She returned to the U.S. to resume studies and became involved in a program that brings young children into restoration sites and teaches them how to plant and plan, with respect to the environment. “What you really look for,” she says, “is water moving through natural systems. I really like that work."
But she longed for something more impactful, and additional education beckoned. She applied to CSUMB and in 2016, completed her masters in Marine and Watershed Science. “I went after a Professional Science Masters option and completed a 400-hour internship, so now I have my Masters in Applied Watershed Science.” Did it work? “I was just hired as a permanent employee for the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County. It’s right up my alley.” She’s now involved in grant writing and doing what she loves best: finding low-tech solutions for large environmental problems.
Lizzy in now 29, and a distance removed from her high school days. It’s strange,” she says, looking back. “I guess I’m doing what I wanted all along.”
Thanks to Judy Proud who discovered a connection to Lizzie when she spoke at the Carmel Valley Rotary luncheon recently. Lizzie’s mother was in the audience and mentioned the scholarship.