USU Students Present Innovative Solutions at 2025 Intermountain Sustainability Summit

A group of Aggies shared their work to engage students in sustainability at the recent Intermountain Sustainability Summit at Weber State University.

“It’s inspiring to see how the students’ work at USU is contributing to the larger sustainability conversation,” said R. Giselle Bandley, service and sustainability coordinator. “At the summit, we not only presented our initiatives but also learned from others who share the same passion for making positive environmental and social impacts.”

The summit focused on fostering collaboration and creating positive environmental, social and economic change through sustainability practices. The Christensen Office of Service and Sustainability showcased its innovative initiatives, including a workshop and four student posters highlighting sustainability efforts.

Kate Anderson won the Sustainability in Action poster category at the event by sharing how USU Harvest Rescue reduces food waste and increases food security by rescuing surplus produce.

Another of USU’s programs featured at the summit was True Blue Reuse & Repair, which promotes sustainable fashion and the circular economy.

The summit brought together more than 400 professionals, graduate students, and emerging leaders from the sustainability sector across the Intermountain West.

At the summit, Aggies engaged with fellow sustainability professionals, presented their work, and participated in meaningful conversations aimed at advancing sustainable practices across Utah and the broader Intermountain West region.

“I loved having the opportunity to talk about my passions with others who share the same passions,” said Ella Leonelli, Student Lead for Sustainability Engagement at the Christensen Office of Service and Sustainability. “My favorite session was led by Caitlin McLennan, where we played a game that initiated productive and thoughtful conversations about the future of Sustainability in Utah.”

A workshop titled “From Campus to Community: Cultivating Regeneration Through Student Engagement” was presented by USU Service and Sustainability Coordinator R. Giselle Bandley, Christensen Office Student Leads Kate Anderson and Mercy Smith. The session aimed to demonstrate how emerging leaders can drive change through regeneration practices, using the university’s sustainability programs as a model.

USU Student Posters

Sustainability in Action (Undergraduate)

• Double Your Bucks by Ella Leonelli.

• True Blue Reuse & Repair: Promoting Sustainable Consumption at Utah State University by Mercy Smith.

• USU Harvest Rescue: Reducing Food Waste While Increasing Food Security by Kate Anderson.

Sustainability Education (Undergraduate)

• Beyond the Car: Blue Bikes’ Guide to Bicycle Commuting by Gwendolyn Sepp.

Sustainability Research (Graduate)

• Biosecurity Strategies for Combating IUU Fishing: Protecting Ecosystems and Economies by Spencer Anderson.

• Great Salt Lake Biosecurity by Jamie Parry.

• Optimal Tree Planting Locations to Benefit South Salt Lake by Corinne Bahr, Benjamin Chandler, Bailey Guinn, Andrew Hughes, Nate Shumway, Kawsar Uddin.

• The Role of Non-Degree Credentials in Developing a Sustainable Workforce in Electrified Transportation Infrastructure by Foeday Zinnah, Angela
• Thawing Arctic Unleashes Biosecurity and Sustainability Challenges by Logan Bolan.