Fuel Pearl's PhD Journey to Texas A&M

Susan Smith is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

This fundraiser for $3700 is to assist Pearl Smith as she moves away from home for graduate school. Pearl has been accepted to Texas A&M University's Chemistry PhD program. She is the first in our family to pursue a PhD and we are so proud of her! She aspires to study nuclear chemistry concentrating on post-blast forensics. Ultimately her desire is to work with national security. She put herself through her undergraduate years with scholarships, grants, and paychecks, and graduated with two bachelor's degrees debt-free. Because she is careful with her money, we would like to raise funds so she can arrive at her new educational adventure debt-free, too!

Pearl will initially drive her own car and will transport her things in the family SUV on a second trip a few weeks later. Besides her travel expenses, she has an added expense of 11 days in temporary housing before her apartment lease begins. She will arrive in Texas on August 4, her first day on campus is August 7, but her predetermined lease doesn't begin until August 15. The least expensive option she found was a Days Inn where she could stay for less money than student housing, a VRBO or an apartment sublease.

The raised funds will go toward:

One one-way drive in a sedan (1,500 miles ~$300 in gas)
One round-trip drive in the family SUV (3,000 miles ~$1200 in gas)
Six nights in hotels (two nights on the road each way ~$900)
Meals for her and a driving buddy (~$600)
An 11-day stay at the Days Inn before her apartment lease begins on August 15 (~$700)

Any dollar amount is sincerely appreciated, whether it covers a burger or an entire tank of gas. Thank you for considering a contribution to Pearl's journey!

The Smith Family