Mary Sorensen Environmental Love Scholarship Fund
A life full of love, adventure, and joy. A legacy that will keep growing.
Remembering Mary
Mary Theresa Sorensen lived life with an adventurous spirit and an extraordinary love for the world around her. She believed that life was meant to be experienced, that the Earth was meant to be appreciated, and that every day offered another opportunity to find joy, share love, and make a difference.
To those who knew her, Mary was so much more than someone who loved nature. She was a wife, a mom, an Oma, a sister, an aunt, and a friend. She embraced life wholeheartedly, found beauty in the simplest moments, and encouraged others to do the same. Whether she was exploring a new place, spending time outdoors, connecting with the people she loved, or simply feeling the Earth beneath her feet, Mary had a way of appreciating life that was both inspiring and contagious.
Mary believed that joy was something we could choose, even when life was difficult. She believed in compassion, in treating others with love and respect, and in the responsibility we all share to make the world a little better than we found it.
On August 26, 2026, Mary was tragically lost in devastating flooding in Nepal while hiking toward Mount Kailash. She was doing something that reflected so much of who she was: embracing adventure, connecting with nature, and experiencing the incredible beauty of our world.
Although her life ended far too soon, the way she lived continues to inspire us.
A Love for the Earth
Mary was an environmental toxicologist and a principal at Ramboll, where she spent her career helping communities clean up, restore, and recover from some of the biggest environmental disasters. She was also a proud member of the Upper Etowah River Alliance, an organization dedicated to protecting the Etowah River and its darters, and to teaching others how to live sustainably.
Her love for the Earth was not simply an interest. It was part of how she lived, how she connected with the world, and how she believed we should care for one another and the places we call home.
To honor her life and carry that spirit forward, our family has established the Mary Sorensen Environmental Love Scholarship Fund in partnership with the Upper Etowah River Alliance.
A Scholarship for Students Who Love the World
Our goal is to create a permanent scholarship supporting students who are pursuing education and careers in environmental science, conservation, sustainability, or related fields. But we want this scholarship to recognize something beyond academic achievement.
We want to support students who see the beauty in the world around them. Students who approach life with curiosity, compassion, enthusiasm, and joy. Students who not only want to protect the Earth, but who genuinely love being a part of it.
Because that is who Mary was.
Help Build Mary’s Legacy
We invite family, friends, and anyone who feels connected to Mary’s story to help us build this lasting legacy.
Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to establishing a permanent scholarship in her name.
Through this scholarship, we hope to help future generations pursue their passions, experience the world, protect its natural beauty, and carry forward the love and positivity that Mary shared so freely. Our hope is that it will continue for generations, creating opportunities for young people to make a difference while keeping Mary’s spirit alive.
Mary had a simple but powerful belief
There is joy in every day, in every moment of life, and in every person. It is up to us to find it.
May this scholarship help others find that joy, follow their passions, and leave the world a little better than they found it.
Let her life bring more life, color, and joy to the world.
With love,
The Family of Mary Sorensen