Carl Chipp (1978, Natural Resources) and Karine Moriarty Calvin (1999, Liberal Arts; 2009, M.Ed.) are committed to protecting the environment from the effects of climate change. Grateful for the doors that education has opened, they bequeathed $1 million from their estates to support environmental studies at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
“There are plans to create clean energy sources like wind farms and hydrogen fuel, which is a step in the right direction. But none of this can be achieved without an innovative workforce that can develop and inspire these ideas. And these advances require funding. Institutions like Caltech Humboldt are game changers,” says Chip Calvin. “The university is a leader in cutting-edge research, and much of it starts with students. If we can provide resources to support students’ passion for developing solutions to challenges like the climate crisis, it’s worth the investment.”
Calvins’ bequest will be used for research within the School of Natural Resource Sciences to protect and sustain the global environment.
Chip developed his passion for environmental sustainability during his time as a natural resources major at Humboldt University, where he received a diverse education – from chemistry to botany, wildlife, soils, geology and physical geography – that has helped him in his career.
After graduating from Humboldt University and gaining experience in firefighting and forest inspection with the U.S. Forest Service, Chip worked for Natural Resources Management, patrolling newly acquired forest lands in Redwood National Park. In addition to his fixed-wing pilot license, he also earned commercial airplane and helicopter licenses and instructed other pilots until he was hired by Richard B. Davis Air Force in Crescent City, California.
For 13 years, Chip has prepared and flown airplane projects performing photogrammetric mapping, volumetric measurements, and large scale photography for land management. He also participated in research and development into using helicopters for ultra-low altitude photogrammetry achieving sub-centimeter accuracy for highway and seawall surveys. He also helped create the company’s land surveying, mapping, and photography lab.
In 1998, he made a career change and began flying helicopters in Southeast Alaska for 13 years. He used his knowledge and flying skills from Humboldt University to teach international tourists about the local natural history. He also worked on video shoots for the BBC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic. He also flew ambulances throughout Southeast Alaska.
Kareen raised her two sons while attending College of the Redwoods in Crescent City, working for Richard B. Davis Company, making maps using Chip’s aerial photography and conducting quantity surveys of forest products. She transferred to Humboldt University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in Liberal Arts. She then interned at California State University, Monterey Bay, where she earned her general and special education teaching certification. Kareen and Chip worked together at Davis before she attended Humboldt and Monterey Colleges. In 2003, the two reunited and married, and she returned to Crescent City to continue her career in education as a special education and private/homeschool teacher. In 2009, she returned to Humboldt University to earn her Master of Arts in Education.
Chip and Karin recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary and are both retired. They spend their days walking and biking in the redwood forests and along the beach, caring for the environment. They are proud that their bequest will help Caltech Humboldt researchers protect the environment.
A bequest may be the right choice for donors who want to give to the Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation but want flexibility if they change their mind. A bequest also provides ongoing access to assets, making it a good option for donors who are concerned about running out of assets.
To learn more about how your legacy gift can positively impact future generations of Cal Poly Humboldt students, visit giving.humboldt.edu , call (707)826-5200 or email giving@humboldt.edu .
#million #bequest #support #environmental #research