NC State student Zialliah Ascalon has been awarded the 2025 City of Raleigh Environmental Award for Climate Action – Community Engagement in recognition of her deep commitment to environmental conservation, community engagement and sustainability leadership. 

An International Studies major with a concentration in Global Sustainability and Development, Zialliah chose her path out of a desire to address the intersection of environmental and socioeconomic issues, both locally and globally. Zialliah’s impact spans campus and community. At NC State, she chairs the Sustainability Fund Advisory Board, which offers and selects recipients of campus grants to increase sustainability. 

Zialliah also serves as a Campus Fellow with the NC Conservation Network and has contributed to sustainable transportation planning through an internship with NC State Transportation. Off campus, she has spent multiple summers with the City of Raleigh Office of Sustainability, supporting climate communications, enhancing the BikeRaleigh program, and now serving as a Pathways to Public Service Fellow.

Also recognized this year were several outstanding NC State staff members through the Finance and Administration 2025 Awards for Excellence, an annual awards program for staff honoring exceptional achievements and contributions to the university community. 

Adam Bensley, of Waste Reduction and Recycling, won in the Efficiency and Innovation category for his leadership in driving forward-thinking waste diversion and education initiatives, achieving a 55% campus landfill diversion rate last fiscal year. Also nominated were University Sustainability Office employees Keondra Jenkins for her contributions to the student experience and Lani St. Hill for her role in planning and increasing student participation in NC State’s Make-A-Thon.

These honorees reflect the powerful role that students and staff play in advancing sustainability, service and innovation across campus and beyond.