“I love penguins!” That’s how Viola Miller, age 8, began her note to penguin researcher Dee Boersma, UW professor of biology and Wadsworth Endowed Chair in Conservation Science. Accompanying the note was a $6 donation toward Boersma’s work. Viola made the donation earlier this month, proving that it’s never too early to start giving.
“After a lesson about compassion at school, Viola came to me with three dollars from her piggy bank and said she wanted to give to something in nature,” recalls Jessica Balsam, Viola’s mother. Jessica’s job is all about private support to the UW—she works on prospect management for University Advancement—so she suggested a few options, including Boersma’s research. “Viola really lit up when I mentioned the penguin research,” says Jessica. “Then she went to her room and got three more dollars and wrote a note to send along with it.”
If only all donors would double their gifts that quickly!
Learn more about Dee Boersma's penguin research.
More Stories
An Earful of AI
Hearing aid technology is improving all the time with the help of AI, thanks to researchers like Shen Yi, professor of speech & hearing sciences.
Helping Kids — and Teachers — Succeed
Throughout her journey from preschool teacher to speech and language pathologist to a special education administrator, Sara Jerger (BS, MS, Speech & Hearing Sciences) has helped students thrive.
The Quantum Quest
Quantum science is poised to tackle problems of mind-boggling complexity, with UW faculty and students in Arts & Sciences and Computer Science & Engineering playing a key role in quantum research.