Sustainability Scholars
Our Sustainability Scholars have varying interests, majors and class years.
Each is placed with a private, public, or nonprofit community institution to focus on a discrete project during the summer, and we also meet as a group to discuss how individuals and institutions can move the needle at the community-scale on environmental issues, with a particular emphasis on climate change.
Learning Objectives
Through hands-on experience and dynamic group discussion, sustainability scholars gain unique knowledge and insight as well as applicable skills, including the following.
- Urgency and agency to make positive change for the environment
- Familiarity with systems thinking and several sustainability-related examples
- Knowledge of key climate change drivers, impacts, and policies
- Knowledge of Charlotte-area sustainability challenges, opportunities, and champions
- First-hand experience with alternative transportation modes
- Proficiency in specific tool(s) for measuring and/or engaging sustainability
- Ability to identify advantages and barriers to community-scale sustainability action from the perspectives of individuals, private-sector, public-sector and nonprofit organizations
2023 Sustainability Scholars

Sydney Kellgren
Everblue

Jayden Smith
Catawba Riverkeeper

Owen Lekki
City of Charlotte

Rani Greer
Catawba Nation

Courtney Fortunato
BikeWalk NC

Kate Lemire
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

Sebastian Provencio
Town of Davidson

Lyric Bailey
Sustain Charlotte

Maddie Plank
CleanAIRE NC
Past Sustainability Scholars
2022 Scholars
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Ella Williams, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
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Claudia Craig, Davidson College Farm
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Amanda Creek, City of Charlotte
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Daisy Hoover, Sustain Charlotte
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Charlotte Joseph, Crescent Communities
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Gabriela Nahm, Carolina Raptor Center
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Katieanne Peterson, Harper General Contractors
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Bailey Scarlett, CleanAIRE NC
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Alexandra Williamson, Summit Coffee
2021 Scholars
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Ty Cryan, Carolina Raptor Center
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Mira Gladstone, The Bulb
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Emily Kaminsky, Town of Davidson
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Beatrice Levy, Crescent Communities
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Kate Pottle, Sustain Charlotte
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Kat Soltany, CleanAIRE NC
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Caroline Wachino, Boomerang Water
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Hattie Rodriguez, Carolina Raptor Center
2020 Scholars
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Claire Brantley, CleanAIRE NC
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Chris Chao, Trees Charlotte
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Corey Cochran, Everblue Training
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Kelly Fitzgerald, BikeWalk NC
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Raul Galvan, Sustain Charlotte
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Will Soutendijk, City of Charlotte
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Paul Stouffer, Carolina Raptor Center
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Bryan Tran, Carolina Raptor Center
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Kendall Weinfeld, Livable Meck