EARTH Graduate

Name: Daniel Man Ging Graduation Year: 1998 Home Country: Ecuador Current Projects: Eco-friendly fertilizer distribution, family exotic-flower farm, feasibility study for flower-export business.

Daniel Man Ging, class of 1998, returned to Ecuador, following graduation. Initially he worked on his family’s exotic flower farm, incorporating techniques he learned at EARTH to reduce the application of conventional agro-chemicals by using organic fertilizers.

However, after working for a while Daniel’s entrepreneurial spirit grew restless. He conducted a feasibility study to test the local market for interest in an environmentally-friendly fertilizer developed using a low-cost technology perfected at EARTH. His study found a viable market for the product, but none of the local banks would provide start-up loans for the business he envisioned. Determined to make the venture work, Daniel negotiated enough credit with his suppliers to launch the company, albeit on a smaller scale than originally planned. Today, his business is successful, has grown and employs more than 50 people.

Daniel credits EARTH for equipping him with the tools to create a business and manage a large staff. EARTH’s fertilizer is now used on countless farms in Ecuador, reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers while helping to increase production levels.

To give back to the University, Daniel serves as President of the Board of EARTH’s Ecuadorian Alumni Association—the first to fund a full, four-year scholarship for an EARTH student. In 2006, the student they sponsored received his diploma, and Daniel was there to see it happen.

There are times when Daniel’s commitment to ethical business practices impacts his bottom line and results in production delays. But he refuses to take shortcuts that would compromise his integrity, or that of his company.

In his spare time, Daniel still works on his family farm and is currently studying the feasibility of beginning a flower export business.

EARTH Student

Name: Stéphany Laforest Current Year: Fourth Home Country: Haiti Interests at EARTH: The philosophy of independence-with-responsibility Goals Post-Graduation: Work with a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to the conservation of natural resources.

Stéphany Laforest is the granddaughter of a farmer and the countryside of her native Haiti is in her soul. As a youth, she studied at an agricultural high school and developed an early interest in agribusiness, food security and medicinal plants.

Stéphany’s path to EARTH was a natural move. Throughout her childhood, she believed her future would lead her beyond Haiti’s borders so she regularly watched the news and kept informed about what was happening outside of her country. Her parents were always supportive of her plans to study in another country. She remarks that “since my arrival, I have felt at home.” She fondly recalls the sense of community she felt with her classmates, particularly her fellow Haitians, when she first arrived.

Stéphany explains that while she has sought out higher education and new horizons at EARTH, she has done so with the intention of returning to her native Haiti. She believes that, “Haiti is in need of the knowledge, skills and principles taught at EARTH.” When she does return, she would like to work with a NGO dedicated to the conservation of natural resources. She says her country has many needs in the areas of rural development, reforestation and social advancement.

In April 2007, Stéphany received news of her acceptance as an intern at Organic Valley, a cooperative of family farms located in Wisconsin. There, she will work in the production and commercialization of organic dairy products. The internship will allow Stéphany to put agribusiness theory into practice while also giving the French and Spanish speaker a chance to hone her English language ability. She sees her upcoming internship as a life challenge – a way to learn and continue to mature both personally and professionally.

The things she values most about EARTH include its multicultural aspect, student life and the philosophy of independence-with-responsibility, which has allowed her to mature as an adult committed to ethical behavior and principles of sustainability.

In addition to offering an enriching academic program, EARTH has also allowed her to explore other talents. Stéphany has had opportunities to learn and work in theater and has already acted in two plays, one of which was performed at the San José Arts Festival in 2006. She explains that this extracurricular activity helped improve her public speaking skills, her Spanish accent and vocabulary, and served as a way to help manage stress.

Stéphany is excited about her future and the impact she will make on her homeland. She says she feels “forever grateful to the University and her donors for the opportunity they gave her to study at EARTH.”

EARTH Staff and Faculty

Name: Erna Sholtz Department: External Relations Home Country: Costa Rica Erna Scholz is deeply committed to the University’s work and identifies with EARTH’s mission. She has been described by her colleagues as sweet-natured and cooperative.

Erna grew up in Costa Rica and inherited her love for the Caribbean and for nature from her father. “Since I was little, he taught me to love nature,” she says. Her two children are great sources of pride. Erna and her son, Claudio, lived close to EARTH for more than a decade but recently moved to San José so he could attend college. Her daughter Hilde lives in the United States and has recently married.

Erna has been with the EARTH University family since 1993. Before arriving at EARTH, she worked as an Executive Secretary at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the University for Peace. While she was working at the University for Peace, she was also responsible for coordinating tours for international visitors. “I always brought them to Limón and while I had no understanding of EARTH’s programs, when I would pass in front of the entrance, I always thought that it must be a special place.” Upon Erna’s initial interview at EARTH, she found herself smiling when the bus turned down the entrance path, “into the place I had always admired on my tours to Limón.”

Since 2000, Erna has worked within the External Relations department assisting with the Amigos trips, among many other duties. She works closely with Gerardo Mirabelli, who she adds has also been a great gift in her life. She remarks “At EARTH, I have met people who have inspired me, like Jane Black. There are others who have supported me in difficult times like Luis. There are many more who I profoundly admire and respect, like Gerardo Mirabelli and my other coworkers. I learn new things every day from each of them!”

After 15 years at the University, Erna still believes EARTH is special. “EARTH has helped me to grow as a person and to strengthen my professional skills. I really enjoy what I do because I believe in what EARTH does. I will always have a special dedication to EARTH and keep it in my heart because it has formed part of the story of my life.”