Calvin News

“Every department needs diverse perspectives, so if you find multiple areas you’re interested in, you should pursue them,” said Yeri Kim about pursuing her many passions at Calvin.

Kim, a double major in business and environmental studies, was awarded a Michigan Sea Grant to work with Plaster Creek Stewards. Plaster Creek Stewards combine education with action to empower watershed residents to make positive impacts in and for their local watershed. 

Putting passion to work

The Michigan Sea Grant is awarded by the University of Michigan to students whose efforts will benefit Lake Michigan in any way possible. Since the water from Plaster Creek runs directly into Lake Michigan, Kim saw this as a great opportunity to pour back into her community and pursue her passion for environmental studies.

“I started at Calvin wanting to pursue international relations and business, but after taking an environmental studies class, I began really thinking about creation care and [now] have a passion for it,” said Kim.

Restoring health and beauty to Plaster Creek watershed involves restoring the relationship between its residents and the creek, as well as restoring the creek's health through green infrastructure. Over the summer Kim will work with a group of high school students that may not know much about their local watershed, but live in neighborhoods directly affected by the health of Plaster Creek. Part of the project involves installing curb-cut rain gardens in urban neighborhoods. By replacing the lawn between the sidewalk and the street with a garden, the amount of water ending up in the creek is minimized and flooding is potentially reduced. At the end of the summer, Kim will present her work at a poster session.

Living and learning in community

Following graduation and her work through the Michigan Sea Grant, Kim hopes to take what she has learned at Calvin and create environmentally sustainable business opportunities for refugees in South East Asia.