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Meet The Graduating NC State Stewards

The NC State Stewards are sustainability student leaders who promote sustainable practices among the NC State community through workshops, presentations, projects and events. 

At the University Sustainability Office, we have the pleasure of working with the Stewards and watching them develop into sustainability leaders. This spring semester, we are proud to recognize 9 graduating Stewards who are now NC State alumni. Each of them has uniquely contributed to sustainability in the classroom, across campus, and in their own lives. 

Thank you for all the ways — known and unknown — that you contributed to the Stewards and to making sustainability a priority at NC State. Your hard work and dedication will continue to pave the way for a sustainable campus and for the NC State Stewards that follow you.

Rene Gilstrap

Degree: Fashion and Textile Management

Hometown: Sanford, N.C.

Major Stewards Projects

  • Sustainability Hacks
  • SAP Mentorship Program
  • Fix It Fair

What does sustainability mean to you?

The daily choices we can make in our lives/businesses/communities to ensure a cleaner, more efficient future. The use of resources in such a way that they will sustain future generations.

Sriya Gottumukkula

Degree: Environmental Sciences

Hometown: India

Major Projects:

  • Environmental Justice Symposium
  • Green Room Certification

What does sustainability mean to you?

Efficient use of resources with minimum degradation to the environment for the current and future generations.

Evan Grant

Degree: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Sylva, N.C.

Major Projects:

  • Faith and Environment Panel
  • Mystery Service Saturdays
  • Sustainability Is For Everyone Events
  • Branding and Certifications

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability is a quality of a functioning society that is able to support its activities while leaving no adverse impact on the environment or depletion of resources needed to sustain the society.

Haley Hall

Degree: Environmental Sciences

Hometown: Danville, Va.

Major Projects:

  • Student Coordinator for 2019-2020
  • Environmental Justice Symposium
  • Save Ohno Project

What does sustainability mean to you?

Always working towards creating a healthier, livable society that is able to maintain itself for generations to come.

Maya Hoon

Degree: Environmental Sciences

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.

Major Projects:

  • Sustainability Hacks
  • Aerator Project
  • Coffee Cup & Talley Waste Education Program
  • Repair Cafe

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability means living in a way that responsibly preserves the natural resources and other fruits of earth’s beautiful environment for future generations to enjoy and utilize.

Jaeleen Mendoza

Degree: Communication Media and International Studies

Hometown: Pfafftown, N.C.

Major Projects: Environmental Justice Symposium

What does sustainability mean to you?

My idea of sustainability is continuously working towards using our natural resources efficiency while having a socially conscious mindset to educate the current generation so that the future one can enjoy the same resources and maintain itself.

Princess Mutasa

Degree: Environmental Technology and Management

Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.

Major Projects:

  • Environmental Justice Symposium
  • Sustainable Stories

What does sustainability mean to you?

Teaching the message of sustainability to all types of people and demonstrating that the environment is for everyone. 

Justin Powers

Degree: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Jacksonville, N.C.

Major Projects: Tri-Tower Energy and Water Competition, including expanding the competition to Wolf Ridge & West Campus

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability is the consumption of resources in a way that allows growth and progress while maintaining the health and quality of the resources used.

Daniel Richardson 

Degree: Paper Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Hometown: Rocky Mount, N.C.

Major Projects:

  • Aerator Project
  • SolarSpace

Sofia Taylor

Degree: Electrical Engineering

Hometown: Portsmouth, RI

Major Projects

  • Walk to the Farmers Market
  • Aerator Project
  • Inspired SolarSpace

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability is creating a campus, community and world that can support the needs of future generations indefinitely in the areas of the environment, health and economics.

David Walser

Degree: Biological Engineering

Hometown: Jamestown, N.C.

Major Projects:

  • Residence Hall Composting
  • Pumpkin Toss

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability is the responsible use of resources in order to minimize our impact on the environment and ensure the availability of valuable resources for future generations.

Rosemary Edberg

Degree: Engineering

Hometown: Mora, Minnesota

What does sustainability mean to you?

Living without causing unnecessary harm on the environment and working so that others know the importance and are capable of doing the same.