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The University of New England brought together the next generation of sustainability leaders on Aug. 8 at the annual Sustainability Fellowship Showcase on the University’s Biddeford Campus.

In its second year, the 2025 showcase covered the work of 16 51���� Summer Sustainability Fellows, up from the six who helped towns and organizations across southern Maine become more sustainable last year, the program's inaugural year.

Held in the Harold Alfond Forum, the event highlighted how the students and recent 51���� graduates are addressing critical sustainability challenges through partnerships with organizations ranging from local land trusts to municipal governments.

“Sustainability is a core value at 51����, and it’s weaved throughout our University tapestry,” Gwendolyn Mahon, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, said in opening remarks. “It’s in our buildings, it’s part of our community, it’s part of our curriculum, and it’s a big part of the student experience.

“T��� summer Sustainability Fellowship program provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn and practice real-world skills to innovate for a healthier planet,” she added, echoing the University’s motto.

(Left): 51���� North Director Cameron Wake, Ph.D., welcomes the crowd. (Right): Sustainability Fellow Milo Lypps, B.S. ’25, speaks from the audience.

The showcase featured presentations divided between two rooms: conservation and analysis projects in one, with mapping and analysis initiatives in another, allowing attendees to explore diverse approaches to sustainability problem solving.

Among the projects was Emma Koenig’s water conservation work with the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited. 

Koenig (Marine Biology, ’26) developed strategies to protect Maine’s freshwater ecosystems, working closely with her Trout Unlimited mentors Greg LaBonte, events and programming officer, and Jim Wescott, conservation chair.

Through organizing trash cleanup events, Koenig engaged over 50 volunteers who removed 7,000 pounds of waste from nine Maine towns, creating data that Trout Unlimited can use to target educational efforts based on the types of garbage found at specific sites.

“Trout Unlimited’s mission is ‘Conserve, protect and restore America’s cold-water fisheries,’ and Emma put the ‘R’ in restoration for our Sebago Chapter,” said Wescott. “Emma coaxed dozens of fishermen to put down their rods and pick up trash along miles of southern Maine’s rivers and streams.”

Koenig noted that her work also generated an 8% increase in social media following for the chapter, which is currently raising $10,000 through a sticker fundraiser for future internship positions at the chapter.

“It wasn’t so much about the challenges as it was about the learning curves,” she said. “What stood out was the personal growth I experienced along the way: growing into a leadership role and learning how to make my voice heard.” 

(Clockwise, from top left): Miranda Carrabba ’26, right, with Heart of Biddeford Executive Director Delilah Poupore; Luke Jenkins ’26, left, with Cultivating Community mentor Billie Watkins; 51����’s Lisa Herschbach, Ph.D., joins the audience in applause; 51���� Provost Gwen Mahon addresses the crowd; and Scott Clemons-Baker, B.S. ’25, right, discusses an emissions inventory developed for the City of Biddeford.

According to Cameron Wake, Ph.D., director of 51���� North, the fellowship program represents 51����’s broader commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers in sustainability at a wide range of organizations while creating immediate benefits for Maine communities in areas like clean air, climate, and equity.

“What gives me hope is seeing the growth in these students: their dedication, their willingness to step beyond their disciplines to understand the bigger picture, and their ability to share that understanding with others,” Wake said. “T���ir generation is leading the fight, and it’s essential we all get behind that energy.”

Miranda Carrabba (Marine Affairs, ’26), who worked with the Heart of Biddeford nonprofit organization, wove together input from community members and Indigenous leaders with insights drawn from the Saco River’s history and ecology for her project. 

(Left): The 2025 fellows gather to celebrate their mentors. (Right): Juliann Lapierre, B.S. ’24, a 51���� alum and an inaugural Sustainability Fellow, shares the professional opportunities the fellowship helped her explore.

She developed a proposal for interactive art installations that merge science and cultural storytelling to help residents reconnect with the waterway and foster a more inclusive community rooted in both heritage and environmental stewardship.

“Sustainability is not only about solving problems; it’s about restoring relationships,” she said, adding that her definition of sustainability grew and changed through the fellowship. “Today, I see sustainability as something far greater than an ideal … sustainability is a way of being in relationship with place, with time, and with each other.”

Wrapping up the event, two Class of ’24 graduates, Sophie Piette, B.S. (Marine Affairs), now programs and outreach manager at ClimateWork Maine, and Juliann Lapierre, B.S. (Environmental Science), property steward at Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, shared insights about how their 2024 fellowship experiences prepared them for careers in sustainability.

Sustainability is not only about solving problems; it’s […] a way of being in relationship with place, with time, and with each other.” — Miranda Carrabba ’26

Wake said that, by connecting academic learning with real-world challenges, the program ensures that students graduate with both knowledge and experience creating positive change for their communities.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” Wake said, quoting a Chinese proverb at the conclusion of the event. “You fellows have taken those first steps by completing this summer Sustainability Fellowship, and, frankly, the world now needs you. Together, I feel we can address those grand challenges and transition into a more sustainable future."