��ʤ������

Over 100 students from across all ��ʤ������ colleges presented their research into a wide variety of sustainability challenges, from local – “Energy Conservation and Use in ��ʤ������ Dorms” to global – “Seafood's Impacts Along the Value Chain: Entity-Level Greenhouse Gas Accounting of Sushi Ingredient Distribution” and impressed this year’s judges with their findings.

Of special note this year, the students in the Sustainability dual major’s first ever honors section of “Exploring Sustainability” focused on personal action to help solve the problems they chose to address, utilizing their classroom knowledge to connect the dots for taking action in daily life – a lifelong skill they will take with them.

In addition, the Sustainability Institute Intern presentations (a non-judged category) solely focused on research to help improve ��ʤ������’s sustainability action, making valuable contributions to ��ʤ������’s national leadership in this area.

Our gratitude to this year’s judges for their time, expertise, and support of these students.

• Yashar Eftekhar Azam, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Michael Burns, ��ʤ������ Sustainability Advisory Board Member
• Jade Chalkley, Peer to Peer Coordinator, ��ʤ������ Sustainability Institute
• Shuili Du, Professor of Marketing, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics
• Luciana Echazu, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education & Associate Professor of Economics, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics
• Allison Leach, SIMAP Program Manager, ��ʤ������ Sustainability Institute
• Dovev Levine, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Affairs & Assistant Vice Provost for Outreach and Engagement
• Solomon Maingi, Senior Lecturer of Geography, Political Science and International Affairs
• Cathy Meyer, Marketing and Communications Manager, ��ʤ������ Sustainability Institute
• Jesse Morrell, Principal Lecturer of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems
• Melinda Negron-Gonzales, Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Security Studies at ��ʤ������ Manchester
• Stacey Purslow, Program Coordinator, NH Farm to School
• Karen Spiller, Thomas W. Haas Professor in Sustainable Food Systems

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Congrats to the winners in each category and to all participating students for their hard work, passion, and dedication to sustainability.

Presentations by students in the class SUST 701: Sustainability Capstone

Winning team: Farm Level Food Waste in ��ʤ������       

• Sophie Goodwin, 2024, Sociology, Sustainability dual major
• Miles Keefe, 2025, Geography, Sustainability dual major
• Margaret Lahey, 2024, Business Administration, Sustainability dual major
• Alyssa Morrison, 2024, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Sustainability dual major

Seafood's Impacts Along the Value Chain: Entity-Level Greenhouse Gas Accounting of Sushi Ingredient Distribution            

• Patrick Butler, 2024, English/Journalism, Sustainability dual major
• Zachary Diehl, 2024, Recreation Management and Policy, Sustainability dual major
• Nathan Maybach, 2024, Women's and Gender Studies, Sustainability dual major
• Jessica Seibel, 2024, Psychology, Sustainability dual major
• Matthew Wilkins, 2024, Political Science, Sustainability dual major

Extended Producer Responsibility in ��ʤ������

• Abigail Blasi, 2024, Political Science, Sustainability dual major
• Braden McDonnell, 2024, Analytical Economics, Sustainability dual major
• Andrew Otersen, 2024, Analytical Economics, Sustainability dual major
• Findlay Peet, 2024, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability dual major

Planning for Power: Electrifying ��ʤ������'s Campus                

• Tim Sicard, 2024, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Finance, Sustainability dual major
• Logan Whittaker, 2024, Psychology, Sustainability dual major
• Morgan Williams, 2024, Environmental and Resource Economics, Sustainability dual major
• Natalie Young, 2025, Equine Studies, Sustainability dual major

Marine Debris in Gulf of Maine        

• Samuel Gobeil, 2024 , Analytical Economics, Sustainability dual major
• Lauren McDowell, 2024, Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology, Sustainability dual major
• Kennedy McGrath, 2025, Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology, Sustainability dual major
• Sarah Nadeau, 2024  Environmental Engineering, Sustainability dual major

Equity and Climate Opportunity Fund       

• Sara Carleo, 2024, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Sustainability dual major
• Kenzie Gagne, 2024, Finance, Sustainability dual major
• Morgan Kahn, 2024, Finance, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Sustainability dual major
• Olivia LaRose, 2024, Business Administration: Management, Sustainability dual major

Durham Community Waste Education     

• Madison Davine, 2024, Marketing, Sustainability dual major
• Tess Hornbeck, 2024 , Theatre, Spanish, Sustainability dual major
• Maria Jacques, 2024, Business Administration: Management, Sustainability dual major
• Edyn Winter, 2024, Marketing, Sustainability dual major

Food Forests: A Perennial Initiative             

• Bella Dziak, 2024, Community and Environmental Planning, Sustainability dual major
• Brianna Frasier, 2024, English, Sustainability dual major
• Simon Quinn, 2024, Political Science, Sustainability dual major
• Caroline Yates, 2024, Community and Environmental Planning, Sustainability dual major

Presentations by students in the class SUST 501: Sustainability in Action

Winning team: Food Systems (Zero Waste)           

• Ava Graham, 2025, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Sustainability dual major
• Ben Kaminski, 2025, Recreation Management and Policy, Sustainability dual major
• Abigail Kincaid, 2027, Environmental and Resource Economics, Sustainability dual major

Renewable Energy

• Ella Longacre, 2026, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Sustainability dual major
• Aidan Miller, 2027, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability dual major
• Sydney Vanasse, 2026, Earth Sciences, Sustainability dual major

Biodiversity   

• Sofia Balan, 2025, Finance, Sustainability dual major
• Ryan Ensminger, 2026, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability dual major
• Ryan Gray, 2026, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability dual major

Sustainable Business Innovations               

• Haley LeMoine, 2026, Management, Sustainability dual major    
• Angelina Meyer, 2024, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, EcoGastronomy dual major
• Megan Stearns, 2027, Undeclared

Improving ��ʤ������'s Energy Usage      

• Robert Collier, 2027, Business Administration, Sustainability dual major
• Alex Magin, 2026, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability dual major
• Tim Sicard, 2024, Information Systems and Business Analytics  Finance, Sustainability dual major

��ʤ������ Agroforest                

• Julian Baldwin, 2025, Civil Engineering, Sustainability dual major
• Bennett Murphy, 2026, Mechanical Engineering, Sustainability dual major
• Justin Wentworth, 2025, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability dual major

Sustainable Community Development   

• Nicholas Booth, 2025, Business Administration
• Bodie Townsend, 2027, Undeclared, Sustainability dual major
• Daniel deMoor, 2025, Communication, Sustainability dual major

Education        

• Lucy Barlow, 2026, Art History
• Rachel Hazelwoo, 2026, Undeclared
• Danika Miller, 2024, Sociology, Sustainability dual major

Justice, Policy, & Institutions           

• Elizabeth DelGiudice, 2026, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability dual major
• Alyssa Jackson, 2025, Geography, Sustainability dual major
• Molly Smith, 2025, Political Science, Sustainability dual major

Sustainable Cities   

• Griff Bates, 2025, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability dual major
• Will Byington, 2024, Environmental and Resource Economics, Sustainability dual major
• Rowan Pow, 2026, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability dual major

Sustainable Cities & Communities              

• Nicole Deneau, 2026, Marketing, Sustainability dual major
• Eric Ierardi, 2026, Civil Engineering, Sustainability dual major
• Anakin Paige, 2025, Marketing, Sustainability dual major

Waste Awareness Do's & Don'ts    

• Alec Ferrante, 2025, Environmental and Resource Economics, Sustainability dual major
• Josephine Ginivisian, 2026, Human Development and Family Studies, Sustainability dual major
• Shane McKenna, 2025, Community and Environmental Planning               

Presentations by students in the class SUST 401: Exploring Sustainability honors section

Awardees left to right: Lyla Tullock-Hernandez '26, Jordan Wright '27

Judges in this section were so impressed by this passionate group of students, they met an impasse in determining a single winner and called a tie between two teams.

Winning team: A Comparative Exploration of Post-Primary Consumer Life of Clothes in the Durham Community       

• Lyla Tulloch-Hernandez, 2026, Business Administration 
• Jordan Wright, 2027, Community and Environmental Planning, Sustainability dual major

Winning team: The Importance of the Arts for a Sustainable Future at ��ʤ������               

• Jacqueline Fuller, 2027, Music Education  
• Allison Kish, 2027, Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology, Sustainability dual major

Sustainable Seafood at ��ʤ������

• Grace Cardin, 2027, Analytical Economics
• Brielle Cloutier, 2027, Political Science
• Sophie Kingston, 2027, Biomedical Science

��ʤ������ and Durham Empowerment of Local Land Stewardship

• Emma Galbraith, 2027, Computer Science, Sustainability dual major
• Kara Hatalsky, 2027, Zoology

How Does a Strong Local Food System Promote Climate Resilience?             

• Tamara Bouchard, 2025, Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Sam McLaughlin, 2027, Music

The Effect of Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) on Educational Equity in ��ʤ������

• Audrey Baldwin, 2027, Environmental Sciences
• Ella Berg, 2026, Psychology
• Ginger Schoff, 2025, Political Science

Energy Conservation and Use in ��ʤ������ Dorms      

• Erin Classey, 2026, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability dual major
• Liliana Pistor, 2027, Biology, Sustainability dual major
• Matthew Stern, 2027, Political Science

How ��ʤ������ is Focusing on Reducing Waste and Overconsumption      

• Alyssa Crotty, 2027, Business Administration
• Madelyne Hancock, 2027, Economics

Presentations by students in the class ECOG 701: EcoGastronomy Capstone

Awardee, middle: Jenna Meyer '24

Winning team: Consumer Choice in the Chocolate Industry: How Can We Make a Difference?

• Jenna Meyer, 2024, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, EcoGastronomy dual major

Exploring Seasonal and Local Food on the Seacoast    

• Madeline Beaton, 2024, International Business and Economics, EcoGastronomy dual major

Supper Club: Food, Community, Conversation

• Ella Norenberg, 2024, Psychology, EcoGastronomy dual major

Discovering Durham: Exploring Local Eateries 

• Ryan Femino, 2024, Communication, EcoGastronomy dual major

From Seed to Soil: A Floral Composting Endeavor

• Daniel Kyle Gottschalk, 2024, Marketing, EcoGastronomy dual major

Micro-Breweries, Macro Waste      

• Samuel Seibert, 2024, Biomedical Science, EcoGastronomy dual major

Pisco to Pescado: Painting Peruvian Food              

• Isabella Hart, 2024, Fine Arts, EcoGastronomy dual major

The Morals of Meat: Comparing the History of Vegetarianism in India and the United States

• Sydney Barringer, 2024, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability, EcoGastronomy dual major

Veggie-GO: Connecting Local Farms to Durham through Community Supported Agriculture

• Molly Bonczek, 2024  Environmental Conservation and Sustainability, EcoGastronomy dual major

Presentations by student Sustainability Institute Interns (non-judged category)

Sustainable Dining and Conscious Consumption            

• Marisa Bianchi, 2026, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability

Drop the Disposables: A Journey Towards Expanding Reusable To-Go Ware at ��ʤ������            

• Kailei Wedge, 2024, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability

Where Will Wildcats Toss Their Trash? Creating a Standardized Waste Collection System at ��ʤ������          

• Tess Hornbeck, 2024 , Theatre, Spanish, Sustainability dual major

What are the Diversion Opportunities for Hard to Recycle Materials at ��ʤ������?           

• Caroline Cirillo, 2026, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability, Sustainability dual major

Trash 2 Treasure Feasibility and Redefining Success    

• Benjamin Kaminski, 2025, Recreation Management and Policy, Sustainability dual major

How Can We Build a Community that Fosters Sustainability on Campus and Beyond?

• Daisy Burns, 2024, Economics, Sustainability dual major

How can we Effectively Promote Pollinator Protection through Student Outreach to Enhance the ��ʤ������ Community?​

• Ila Bartenstein, 2024, Environmental Sciences, Sociology
• Andrew Ricketts, 2026, Genetics, Sustainability dual major

How Can Sustainability Advocates Increase Sustainability Peer Education in ��ʤ������ Residence Halls? 

• Megan Broderick, 2024, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability, Educational Studies

How Close is ��ʤ������ to its Footprint Reduction Goals set in WildCAP?                

• Sofia Anestam, 2025, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability dual major

Cat Trax Bike Share Program             

• Victoria Whitcomb, 2026, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Sustainability dual major

How Do Stormwater Management Systems Impact the Environment and How Can Communities Contribute to Their Maintenance                 

• Louis Arinello, 2026, Spanish, Sustainability dual major
• Karena Sazo, 2024, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability

Impacts of Climate Change on the Datoga and Hadzabe Tribes in Lake Eyasi Basin, Tanzania     

• Daisy Burns, 2024, Economics, Sustainability dual major

Key Findings from the International Changemaker Grant Volunteering Trip to Takataka Plastics in Gulu, Uganda        

• Kaiden Bedell, 2024, Mechanical Engineering
• Daisy Burns, 2024, Economics, Sustainability dual major
• Logan Whittaker, 2024, Psychology, Sustainability dual major

��ʤ������ Food Purchasing Impacts on Carbon and Nitrogen Footprints 

• Durga Raja, 2025, Environmental and Resource Economics, Sustainability dual major