New EcoReps Bring Sustainability to Students

On a warm August morning, a group of students in blue shirts and yellow vests stood near labeled compost bins, chatting with new students about the impact of a single discarded paper cup. On the back of their vests, the words “Sustainability Volunteer” proclaimed their purpose. Welcome Week was in full swing, and the EcoReps were making their first appearance on campus as the faces of sustainability at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

This fall, the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) launched its new EcoReps program, funded by the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC). The program’s mission is to train a group of student ambassadors who will share sustainability knowledge with the campus community — engaging in dialogue and spreading awareness.

“At iSEE, we wanted to do more to reach students and help them get involved in sustainability initiatives,” said iSEE Sustainability Programs Coordinator Miriam Keep, who directs the EcoReps program. “We’ve heard it can be difficult to know where to start. The EcoReps program is one strategy to get the word out to more students and think of new ways to connect with students from a variety of majors and interests. The EcoReps can help students understand why sustainability matters and encourage sustainable practices.”

While the university has many Registered Student Organizations dedicated to environmental causes — as well as majors in environmental science and policy, course offerings across departments that focus on climate topics, and educational programs such as iSEE’s Certificate in Environmental Writing — some students never have the chance to interact with iSEE or these different opportunities. The EcoReps aim to reach students where they are, engaging with people who may not already be connected to sustainability on campus.

“Getting people to know about the environmental RSOs on campus and get more involved — that’s what excites me,” said Mia Anguiano, one of the EcoReps in this year’s first cohort and a sophomore studying environmental economics and policy. “I really want people to care about the environment and sustainability.”

The 10 student EcoReps represent six different colleges across campus. Not all of these students have been involved in environmental RSOs or programs on campus, but they have a common passion for the environment and want to share that passion with others. This mix of students is intentional, reflecting iSEE’s commitment to expanding the circle of people engaged in campus sustainability.

For Isabella Chew, a junior studying accounting and data science, joining EcoReps was a way to bridge her professional background with her personal values. “I felt a lot of pressure to focus on my major and professional organizations,” she said. “But I wanted to find a way to break into the sustainability space.” The EcoReps program is an avenue for her to connect with like-minded students and faculty and spread the message of sustainability to other students who may be feeling the same way.

The EcoReps jump-started their semester of learning and teaching at Welcome Week. They staffed a composting initiative at the Welcome Lunch – a zero-waste event — and tabled at Quest for Success and Quad Day. Chew was happy for the opportunity to connect with new students. “It’s really nice to be able to welcome the freshmen and set up an expectation of what the university cares about,” she said.

During these events, the EcoReps have conversations with students about iSEE and the opportunities for environmental engagement on campus. Recently, they have also started presenting at first-year orientation classes in different departments, such as HK 100, Orientation to Kinesiology. “It was inspiring,” Anguiano said. “We were able to go to an orientation class outside the sustainable realm.”

The EcoReps are developing the content of these presentations to suit the interests and practical applications of the students they are talking to.

“Even if they’re not sustainability majors or in environmental RSOs, they can still learn about this and implement it in their professional tracks,” Chew explained. “People are really focused on professional goals, and sometimes sustainability isn’t part of that. But it should be.”

For both Anguiano and Chew, the program has been an opportunity for growth. “Learning everything has been exciting,” Anguiano said. “I’d like to see EcoReps go out to more classes and reach more students, not just freshmen.”

Chew added, “EcoReps was a wake-up call for me. If I care about this, I want to be more actionable about it and help others understand how they can be involved.”

Beyond class presentations, the EcoReps are organizing events such as iSEE’s Illini Lights Out (ILO) and Campus Trash Pickups. At the same time, they are learning about the initiatives the university has in place through hands-on experiences like touring the campus Waste Transfer Station. Through this process of awareness and education, the EcoReps are learning how to tailor recommendations to students. There is something for everyone in the world of campus sustainability opportunities.

“The students are very motivated,” Keep said. “Next semester, we expect EcoReps to take on even more of their own ideas and initiatives.”

The EcoReps are spreading the word, creating a campus culture where sustainability is accessible and relevant. At iSEE, the message is clear: Small improvements matter, and every member of the campus community has a place in building a greener Illinois.

— Article by iSEE Communications Intern Sophia Beem

Meet the EcoReps!