Erin Burgard

Project & Development Intern

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Intern Travel Fund Questions

Why is traveling to Cusco with the 33 Buckets Team important to you?

Traveling to Cusco is my opportunity to discover and experience the wonders of our world and the differences and similarities of cultures. 33 Buckets allow for a direct experience with the communities we work for. I am excited to enhance my engineering and Spanish skills by traveling to Peru.

How has 33 Buckets impacted you personally and professionally?

I discovered 33 Buckets as a 7th grade Barrett Summer Scholar. In understanding the potential impact of bringing clean water to communities, I felt a direction for my career. I am passionate about work that helps people. Growing up, service work always felt good - from volunteering to serve pizza at St. Rose food bank to being an organizational volunteer for Tri4theCure triathlon. Working with 33 Buckets as an engineering student allows me to continue to serve those in need. Quality work can be done in the private, public or non-profit sectors. Having been inspired by 33 Buckets previously, I reached out to them as an Environmental Engineering student for opportunities to serve through them. I accepted a Project and Development Intern position in October of 2021. Since then, I have learned a great deal about the practical applications of Environmental Engineering. As an engineer, I am concerned with the mechanical and chemical nature of clean water. As an engineer for a non-profit, I am additionally challenged to incorporate organizing benefit events, meeting with donors and writing grant applications. Everybody working for a non-profit is involved in fundraising. The professional experience is valuable to me, but on a personal level I get a sense for the power of helping others to live healthier, more productive lives. As people in societies, that’s what we must do for each other.

What is your favorite part about working with 33 Buckets?

My favorite part about working with 33 Buckets is being integral to a work environment that emphasizes the empowerment of the communities we are partnering with. Our ultimate goal is to create permanent access to clean drinking water, which involves training and educating local water managers so that the presence of 33 Buckets is not needed in the future. We look for solutions in which communities can meet their own needs.

What are some of your hobbies, interests, and passions outside 33 Buckets?

The arts have always been a passion of mine - painting, drawing, dancing, music, acting and singing. As a small business, I create individualized, handmade cards of all kinds (thank-you, birthday and congratulations). If you support me in my travel to Cusco you'll be sure to receive one! I acted in over 25 plays in child theater, competed in show choir in high school, and sang with the ASU A Capella group Tempetations. Currently, I am a part of the Women's Ultimate Frisbee team at ASU and a member in the SWEL club (Society of Water and Environmental Leaders).

My name is Erin and I am a sophomore pursuing an Environmental Engineering major, Spanish minor, and Environmental Humanities certificate in Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University. I grew up in North Phoenix and graduated valedictorian from Boulder Creek High School. On campus, I’m currently involved in the ASU Chapter of ASCE (American Society for Civil Engineers) and am participating in their Sustainable Solutions Competition. Also, I am a member of the Engineering Honors Society, Society of Women in Engineering, and the ASU Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team.

I first heard about 33 Buckets at a Barrett Summer Scholars retreat in the summer before my freshman year of high school. Mark Huerta gave a guest speech about the company and for the first time, I knew what I wanted to pursue as a career. The emphasis 33 Buckets puts on empowering the communities they are working with, rather than just solving a water treatment problem, inspired me. I reached out to Mr. Huerta five years later, as a sophomore in college, and was awarded the Research and Development Internship position. I am greatly looking forward to working in Peru with 33 Buckets this summer and meeting the communities while enhancing both my engineering and Spanish skills.