Personal Statement Zachary Hayes

As a senior at the University of Michigan–Flint majoring in Energy and Sustainable Systems

through the Geography, Planning, and Environment Department, my tenure has been one where I’ve
challenged myself academically and socially. My coursework has consisted of interdisciplinary
curriculums spanning environmental science, urban planning and the Honors Program. One of the most
relevant skills I’ve learned is Geographic Information Systems (GIS). I’ve been a TA for three semesters in
the upper level GIS course where I used my knowledge to provide guidance to my peers. I have applied
my education as a member of the team of students who crowd-sourced the mapping of known lead pipe
locations in the City of Flint. This information was used by the City of Flint during the Flint Water Crisis to
accurately assess which homes in Flint were in the most need of pipe replacement. I am also minoring in
City and Regional Planning through and have attended several conferences and networking forums to
enhance my education in my field. For the past 4 years, I’ve attended the Student Michigan Association
of Planners Conference where I networked with professionals in the field, received résumé guidance,
and learned about planning sustainable and equitable pedestrian-scaled cities. I also have experience
using the modeling software Google Sketchup that allows me to model 3D conceptualizations of urban
designs that I can use to build my portfolio in the future. Thanks to my other courses in the Energy and
Sustainable Systems program, I have a broad knowledge of proper land and watershed management
classes, ways to increase transportation safety and how to utilize statistics to create well-designed
research projects and analyze numerical data.
Academic research across the disciplines has also played a significant role in my undergraduate
experience at UM-Flint. My time in the Honors Program has allowed me to broaden my horizons
through five conference and two colloquia presentations. The research that I’ve undertaken has
spanned environmental science, British literature, theater performance, American and British Film, and
food distribution and waste issues. My journey through the Honors Program has provided me several
opportunities to present both my literary and research papers. Not only has writing these research
papers improved my writing skills, but they have also sharpened my public speaking and to the fact that
the Honors Program promotes critical thinking and analysis. I’ve done extensive writing on
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and have presented these papers at various conferences.
During my freshman year, I presented a paper based on the interpretation of John Sayles’ movie Lone
Star at the Honors 156 Colloquium. The paper was titled “History – The Hell With it Right?”: The Historic
Eras of the Sheriffs in John Sayles’ Lone Star and was based on evidence from the movie and movie
script. The paper highlighted how the sheriffs in the movie were representative of the social mindsets of
people during the respective past generations. In November, 2015 I presented a riveting paper at the 4th
annual Honors Interdisciplinary Research Forum titled “More and More”: The Problem of Deforestation
in the Brazilian Rainforest. I performed extensive research on the topic which allowed me to immerse
myself in the paper and come up with the conclusion that humans’ demands for food and material
goods are what’s destroying the rainforests. I also delivered my research paper titled Counting Calories:
The Hidden Food Waste Epidemic in America at the Honors 252 Colloquium. This research paper yielded
comprehensive insights as to how much food is actually wasted in the United States amidst massive
amounts of food insecurity. I was able to clearly outline the scale of our country’s food waste problem
and provide a plethora of methods we can employ to prevent it. My conference and colloquia papers
show that I am able to perform valid research on a variety of topics and present them in an
understandable manner.
I have shown determination and perseverance through the volunteer work that I’ve done. As of
February 2018, I have over 650 total hours of service within the University and the community that have
developed my leadership, communication, and time management skills. A large portion of my service
has been done through the Future Urban and Environmental Leaders Club where I currently serve as
President. I have dedicated my time to improving campus through FUEL by helping organize our river
cleanups, running general meetings and activities, and making several on campus events zero-waste.
Personal Statement Zachary Hayes

FUEL has also connected me to community organizations such as the Flint River Watershed Coalition
where I performed benthic monitoring of macroinvertebrate organisms. Benthic macroinvertebrate
populations reflect river quality and characterizing the variety of riverbed organisms has strengthened
my environmental fieldwork and analysis skills. I founded our university’s chapter of the Food Recovery
Network in March of 2016, where student volunteers recover leftover food from UM-Flint Dining
Services and donate it between a couple of local nonprofits. This prevents food from being thrown away
and helps feed hungry people in the Flint area. As of February 2018, I have facilitated the donation of
over 4,500 pounds of food, and the organization is still going strong. I’ve also volunteered with the
Genesee County Health Department and the University during the Flint Water Crisis where I distributed
lead test results and water filters, respectively. With University Outreach I’ve been able to board up
vacant Flint homes to deter crime. Last year I partook in the Alternative Spring and Summer Break
programs, performing community service in Flint and Philadelphia respectively. Between both cities, my
work included beautification and blight removal projects, installing smoke detectors in residential
homes, and painting the gym in a recreation center. My university service hours include volunteering for
the Honors Program at the annual scholarship competition and during Honors program information
nights for the past three years. My repertoire of involvement has not gone unnoticed. I was nominated
and selected as the Newman Civic Engagement Fellow for the University of Michigan – Flint by
Chancellor Susan Borrego. As a result I was able to travel to Boston for the student leadership
conference where I networked with student leaders from dozens of other colleges around the country.
Applying myself on campus and in the community has certainly bettered my leadership skills, and
exercised my self-efficacy in new environments. It has been a great pleasure to volunteer and I look
forward to continuing to improve myself and others through community engagement.
Throughout my life thus far, I have shown that I have what it takes to succeed: a strong work
ethic, initiative, determination, a positive attitude, and a mindset towards progression. I believe I have
shown that I can handle the hectic schedule that I’ve undertaken. Now I’m ready to transition to the
workforce, translating what I’ve learned through study and experience to make a positive difference
within the community.