Earth Echo International
I first became involved with Earth Echo during middle school through a mentor who recognized my interest in protecting marine and freshwater environments. At the age of thirteen, I became the youngest Water Challenge Ambassador, which exposed me to the world of conservation and youth advocacy. Through this role, I was trained to conduct monthly water sampling on a body of water that was personally significant to me, using my findings to educate others. While this sampling was informal, it provided me with a valuable introduction to field science and the skills required in that field.
In 2018, I had the opportunity to attend my first Earth Echo conference, where I was drawn to the collaborative atmosphere and sense of shared values among attendees. Though my initial position was only a year-long, it had a significant impact on my passion for science and the scientific community.
I have recently re-joined the Earth Echo Team as a Marine Plastics Ambassador. The program’s captivating seminars equipped me with the tools to raise awareness in my own community about the wide reaching problem of marine plastics. Drawing from both my lived experiences and what I learned through Earth Echo, I primarily developed and led interactive activities for elementary and middle school students. I focused on watersheds, emphasizing that even if you live far from the Great Lakes or the ocean your daily choices still impact the water systems that sustain us all.
See what else I have been up to as a Marine Plastics Ambassador! Click on each image to read more.
2023 Campus Wide Climate CRisis Teach-IN
As a high school junior, I had the opportunity to become a national finalist in the research competition National History Day. My project, a website detailing the history of Earth Day and highlighting the role of the teach-in hosted by the environmental organization ENACT at the University of Michigan. Through this experience, I gained an understanding of how teach-ins can effectively promote meaningful change. When I noticed that teach-ins were being organized across the country to educate students about the urgency of the climate crisis, I knew I wanted to host one at Siena Heights University. Leveraging my involvement in my environmental internship and the Greenlight student group, I was able to meet with every department on campus. I developed brief activities and presentations to connect each department's subject areas to climate issues.
Additionally, I engaged campus clubs by encouraging them to host sustainable events or informational booths. I organized a sign-making activity to create protest signs for campus displays and coordinated the display of informational videos across campus monitors. One of the most rewarding aspects was interacting with students in common areas, answering their questions, distributing stickers, plants, and cookies. Students throughout the day were encouraged to reflect and sign a pledge committing to applying climate awareness in their future. It was an estimated ~1,500 students participated!