SLG: Sustainability Leadership Group

“I decided to apply to SLG ’28 because of my love and passion for the environment and my desire to learn how to sustain it. I’ve always spent a majority of my time outdoors and I’ve always felt drawn to nature. I am very excited to start working with the other SLG ’28’s and can’t wait for this year!”

“I want to gain the leadership skills and knowledge to be able to advocate for a sustainable future and assist those marginalized in my hometown. I hope to collaborate with like-minded students to inspire change and innovate on campus. My passion is driven by my hope of improving the lives of others and being part of something larger than myself.”

“I’m very excited to form close bonds with the SLG group and work towards making an impact bigger than our individual works put together. I’ve gotten much closer with nature as I’ve grown older—it has had a very healing effect in my life—so I’m driven to give back, celebrate, and preserve our world for the future.”

“I decided to join SLG ‘28 because I’m passionate about sustainability and want to help make a tangible impact on campus. I’ve always enjoyed discussing environmental issues and am excited to learn more about the various ways we can advocate for the environment.”

“I decided to join SLG ’28 because of the value I place on developing methods for a better, more sustainable future in an environment that includes perspectives from a diverse community alongside connecting individuals who all have environmentalism at the forefront of their future goals.”

“As a lover of the outdoors with experience in environmental volunteering, I was immediately drawn to SLG when I learned about it. I knew I wanted to join a group that shares my passion for sustainability. I have had the privilege of traveling to many international destinations where I have witnessed the effects of climate change. I am eager to do my part in the fight against global warming and I believe that, through teamwork, we have what it takes to make a real difference.”

“I don’t want to sound like the Lorax, but in a way I wish to speak for the animals, and if one of the ways of helping them is by educating myself more on the issues we are facing in SLG, I’ll make sure I gain all the information I can get. With the ways humans are damaging the environment, I know that if we don’t change our ways then not only will our future generations lose out on seeing so many beautiful landmarks, but we will also lose the creatures that live on this Earth with us. Remember, the animals were here first.”

“All throughout high school I was heavily involved in environmental/ sustainability clubs. SLG incorporates those same sustainable goals at a higher level, while also allowing me to grow connections with my peers. I joined SLG to broaden my education on what sustainability—and being a leader—truly is. I hope to be able to use all that I learn to make an impact within the Wake Forest community and beyond.”

“Being a camp counselor for the last four years has meant that I was able to see the love children have while being outdoors and connecting with nature. Seeing such passion has inspired me to continue my education in fundamental issues such as sustainability. Exploring this topic throughout high school allowed me to meet incredible people and experience amazing opportunities. I cannot wait to continue this journey with such a great team at Wake!”

“I have always been interested in biology, medicine, and keeping my indoor plants alive. Since I have learned more about how the loss of biodiversity links to climate change and other dire consequences, I aimed to deepen my knowledge about sustainability. Curiosity drives my passion about environmental issues, and through SLG ’28 I look forward to problem-solving and making positive impacts to the Wake Forest and surrounding communities.”

“SLG immediately caught my attention as a group that was focused on making a practical and positive difference on campus. Loving all things nature, I am driven by learning the scientific underpinnings of many of the environmental issues the world is facing today while dedicating my time to the many projects SLG does to tackle those issues head on.”

“As an aspiring actress and author, I’m passionate about finding the intersection between sustainability and the arts, especially using the arts to bring awareness to topics like climate change activism and sustainability. SLG seemed like a great avenue to merge my interests in social and environmental activism with my passion for communication and creativity. I’m excited to help create change on campus and promote a more equitable, sustainable community for everyone.”

“I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay, a highly stressed and threatened ecosystem. In school, I would learn about the watershed and how we can best support the area we call home. Sustainability is important to me because of this, and I want to apply everything I know to a new area that I can call home!”

“I joined SLG as a way to further my passions for science/sustainability and community engagement. I discovered my love of chemistry and environmental science in high school, and I am excited to continue learning from a group of people with such varied interests. The more I learn about sustainability the more I am pushed to take action, but the only way for real change to happen is if we spread that knowledge past those who will intentionally seek it out. That is why the community engagement focus of SLG is so exciting to me, and is a big part of why I joined.”

“I have loved the environment since I was a child, and seeing its continuous deterioration has inspired me to try and repair our planet. Now I plan to study engineering and environmental science with the intention of improving renewable energy systems.”

“Throughout high school, I had always been passionate about exploring more obscure aspects of sustainability, such as plastic-degrading worms and emerging pollutants. However, I realized that I had never truly understood just how far sustainability branches, and I had never tried to make an impact with it outside of volunteering. Because of this, SLG was the perfect opportunity for me to not only expand my understanding of sustainability but to make an impact alongside others.”