If you’re a frequent Spider Pride reader, then we’re sure you’re aware of the University’s dedication to sustainability. Our students share that interest, too, as they’re self-motivated and determined to better our communities.

Just this Spring Break, three groups totaling 70 Spiders traveled to West Virginia, Louisiana, and Michigan as part of the SEEDS Project — a student-run group focused on examining the complexities of American social and environmental issues and cultivating active citizens. In each location, students participated in service activities and investigated how issues like sea level rise, urban renewal, food justice, and the declining coal industry are influencing communities and the natural environments around them.

“My freshman year, I went on the trip to West Virginia … I loved the community built among all the students on the trip, and I thought it was really valuable to talk to people living in the coal mining community we visited,” said the organization’s president Victoria Williams, ’19.

We’re so proud of these students — and the campus at large — for being leaders in sustainable practices!