Matt Helt enjoyed working with children so much during his Peace Corps service that he said they are what he will always remember the most about his experiences in Paraguay.SNRAS Master’s International student Matthew Helt will give a presentation Monday, Feb. 27 about his Peace Corps experiences in Paraguay.
Helt, 27, had always wanted to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer and while browsing the Master’s International Program website UAF caught his eye. He had studied government and international politics at George Mason University and wanted something more tangible, so selected natural resources management. “What better location than Alaska?” he said. “I had heard my Dad talk about wanting to visit Alaska since he was my age.”
Helt’s said his desire to serve in the Peace Corps came about because he had taken for granted what it’s like to live in a country with a functioning government, to have parents who love and care for you and to be enrolled in an education system that sets you up for success. “In America, we have many amazing material things that everyone around the world wants,” he said. “What they need are good governance, loving parents and quality education; I learned to appreciate those. I also got an extensive course in Murphy's Law.”
Helt served in Paraguay for two years as an agroforestry volunteer. He did a lot of work gardening, cooking and mentoring young people.
The Master’s International Program is for students willing to do whatever is available with limited resources, Helt said. “In the end it’s a great program with great people but the administrative side can trip you up.” Transitioning from graduate school to Peace Corps and back has been challenging too, Helt said. “In the end though I wouldn’t trade it for any other program.”
While finishing up his graduate work (research project on agroforestry adoption in communities where other agroforestry Peace Corps volunteers have served), Helt is working at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in downtown Fairbanks, providing public lands information, trip planning assistance and resource education for locals and visitors. “I’m still learning about the many activities Alaska has to offer and I enjoy sharing my experiences with others so they may enjoy this state as much as I have.”
In the Master’s International Program, students may pursue several areas of interest within the UAF Natural Resources Management M.S. degree, including horticulture, soil science, agronomy, animal science, forest ecology, silviculture, resource economics, land planning, parks/recreation management and resource policy. The university provides a six-credit tuition waiver for Peace Corps Master’s International students, and allows them to maintain their active student status during their assignment. Contact Professor Steve Sparrow for more information.
Helt’s presentation is free and open to everyone. It will be Feb. 27 at 3:30 p.m. in the International Arctic Research Center, Room 401. Parking is available behind the building for a $3 fee.
Previous posts:
Update from SNRAS Peace Corps student, SNRAS Science & News, Jan. 8, 2010
Graduate student assigned to Paraguay, SNRAS Science & News, Dec. 12, 2008
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