Five talented University of Illinois students from varied disciplines across campus have been selected as the inaugural Levenick Undergraduate Research Scholars at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), giving them valuable hands-on research opportunities in environmental sustainability.
The Levenick Undergraduate Research Scholars will work with a faculty mentor to evaluate a sustainability challenge on campus, analyze data related to the issue, and make recommendations about how to address it. Funded by a generous gift from donors Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick, the program offers independent study credit and experiential learning for students, a small financial incentive for mentors, and fresh ideas to improve sustainability on campus.
The students submitted research proposals to advance goals outlined in the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP), using data they collect or already gathered by the campus. Their projects will explore ways to expand recycling, improve energy efficiency, reuse waste for sustainable fuel or renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Enrolled in five different colleges across campus, the young scholars bring diverse skills and perspectives to this effort:
- Dylan Wombacher, a sophomore in Plant Biotechnology (College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences): A project to quantify single-use plastic waste in labs across campus and identify where a recycling program would have the most impact. Wombacher will be mentored by Isaac Klimasmith, lecturer in statistics and quantitative plant sciences and incoming Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Crop Sciences.
- Kristina Muharremaj, a junior in Earth, Society, & Environmental Sustainability (College of Liberal Arts & Sciences): A project examining how the spacing of public lighting affects students’ perceptions of pedestrian safety after dark, and what changes could improve energy efficiency without compromising pedestrian comfort. Muharremaj will be mentored by Nooreen Meghani, Teaching Assistant Professor in the School of Earth, Society, and Environment.
- John Han, a junior in Finance and Data Science (Gies College of Business): A project investigating the energy consumption impact of retrocommissioning – operational changes to improve a building’s energy efficiency – to assess whether it delivers meaningful savings and to help prioritize future investments. Han will be mentored by Eric Green, Senior Academic Program Instructor/Adviser at iSEE.
- Vivek Limaye, a sophomore in Aerospace Engineering (Grainger College of Engineering): A project to evaluate whether food scraps, agricultural residues, and other campus organic waste can serve as a viable source of sustainable aviation fuel production, by analyzing feedstock availability and bioprocessing performance. He will be mentored by Luis Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
- Michelle Martignon, a sophomore in Sustainable Design (College of Fine and Applied Arts): A project developing a framework for a full feasibility study for an anaerobic digester at the U. of I. Dairy Farm, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock manure and advance renewable energy and resource recovery. Martignon will be mentored by Karin Hodgin Jones, Teaching Assistant Professor and Director of the Sustainable Design Program.
Overall, the program is designed to empower students with the critical analytical skills needed to be global stewards of environmental sustainability and engage them in the responsibilities of making our campus and the world more sustainable.
About Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick
Stuart Levenick retired as group president from Caterpillar Inc., where he held a variety of executive roles, and he currently holds board positions with several international corporations. He also serves as a member of the board of directors and the development committee chair for the University of Illinois Foundation, and is a member of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Campaign Planning Committee. Stuart Levenick graduated from the College of ACES with a bachelor’s degree in forestry and furthered his education as a Sloan Fellow, earning a master’s degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was awarded the University of Illinois Varsity “I” Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and the College of ACES Career Achievement Award in 2018.
Nancy Levenick graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Education, and taught high school English in Toronto before the couple embarked on an eight-move, global career, including assignments in Canada, Singapore, Russia, and Japan, returning to Peoria in 2004. Since then, Nancy Levenick has been an active member of the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Advocacy Board and a board member of WTVP and the Peoria Ballet. Both Stuart and Nancy have been active members of the Heart of Illinois United Way.