Environment & Sustainability Program

Environment & Sustainability Undergrad Awards

Each year, three outstanding Environment & Sustainability Program seniors are awarded the Ann Berry Somers Award for Conservation, the Susan J. Buck Award for Environmental Policy & Practice, and the William T. Markham Award for Graduate Study in Environmental Studies.

These awards are named in honor of past UNCG faculty members who founded and have profoundly impacted the development of the Environment & Sustainability Program. Dr. Buck was the first Director (2000-11) of what was then called the “Environmental Studies Program”; Dr. Markham (2011-15) was the second director and oversaw the transition to the Program being called “Environmental and Sustainability Studies”; and Ms. Somers was the first Associate Director (2018-20) of the “Environment and Sustainability Program,” as it has been known since the 2018 merger with Geography to become the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability.

Recipients of the Ann Berry Somers Award:

  • 2019 – Ashley Rose: Ashley received a dual degree: a B.A. in Environmental & Sustainability Studies along with a B.S. Biology. For her capstone Project, Ashley considered effects of climate change and fire suppression on fire-dependent ecosystems, such as the Longleaf Pine Savanna found here in North Carolina.
  • 2020 – Madeline Galliano: Madeline’s capstone project examined the environmental and health impacts of the GenX chemical compound contamination of the Cape Fear River. She is the recipient of the Mina Weil Memorial Scholarship and the Outstanding Environment & Sustainability Major Award, and she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
  • 2021 – Edward J. Brim: Eddie was awarded the inaugural Ann Berry Somers Award for Conservation, which is presented to the outstanding graduate who has dedicated significant effort to study and work in environmental conservation.
  • 2022 – Natalie Sabiston: Natalie graduated with a B.A in Environment & Sustainability together with a B.A. in Biology. She did research in Dr. Sally Koerner’s biodiversity ecology lab, where she studied the effects of nitrogen deposition on arthropod communities in the longleaf pine savanna ecosystem. Natalie presented her research at the Honors Symposium and at the Undergraduate Research Expo.
  • 2023 – Jamison Cole: In addition to their B.A. in Environment & Sustainability, Jamison also earned minors in biology and in math. Jamison’s senior honors project involved researching issues of accessibility in outdoor experiential education, with a focus on problems of classism, racism, and ableism. Their project highlighted the importance of indigenous educators and knowledge.
  • 2024 – Cayden Hattaway: Cayden received a B.A. in Environment & Sustainability with a concentration in Natural Sciences and a double major in Biology. Cayden worked on a senior capstone project about arthropods’ role in maintaining soil health in agricultural ecosystems.

Recipients of the Susan J. Buck Award:

  • 2021 – Mary’Iam I. Griffin: With this award, we recognize Mary’Iam’s active engagement with the EVS program as well as their service in the Office of Sustainability.
  • 2022 – Hannah Ely: Hannah joined the UNCG Green Fund Committee in the Fall of 2018, serving for three and a half years until she graduated in December of 2021, making her one of the longest serving undergraduate committee members. During her time of service, the Green Fund Committee provided over $240,000 to support 30 campus and community sustainability projects.
  • 2023 – Jenny Lois Francisco: In addition to her major in Environment & Sustainability, Jenny also majored in Sociology. She is most proud of her term as chief editor for the journal created by the Lloyd International Honors College, including its first-ever special issue on “Race and the Environment,” a topic that allowed her to fuse her excellence in both of her majors.
  • 2024 – Alexis Winslow: Alexis received a B.A. in Environment & Sustainability with a concentration in Equity, Development, and Ethics. Alexis is most proud of the work she did in a project that gathered data about tree equity in Greensboro.

Recipients of the William T. Markham Award:

  • 2021 – Samantha Kailand Gaillard: Although she once wanted to be a doctor, Sam is now passionate about doing wilderness and backcountry hiking expeditions and eventually getting certified as a wilderness first responder and working in environmental education.
  • 2022 – Mikayla Surrette: Mikayla graduated with a B.A in Environment & Sustainability with aspirations to become a park ranger. She found great fulfillment in her final research project on the benefits of protected lands, how they help people and the environment, and how to best care for them. Mikayla studied abroad at the University of Oulu in Finland, where she also conducted field research north of the Arctic Circle.
  • 2023 – Jordan Williams: Jordan’s senior honors project was on Wetlands for Agriculture. She considered the beneficial aspects of protecting wetlands on agricultural land and how landowners can restore and protect previously degraded wetlands. She was able to present her project at the Ocean Advocacy Workshop.
  • 2024 – Hannah McFarland: Hannah received a B.A. in Environment & Sustainability with a concentration in Natural Sciences and a minor in Biology. She helped develop and coordinate with Dr. Chitiyo a “Propagation Station” at UNCG’s Science Everywhere event to demonstrate the possibilities of re-using food scraps to grow fresh foods at home and thus reduce food insecurity in Greensboro.

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