Meet the Environmental Stewards

Current Environmental Stewards - 2025-2026

Shiva Aryal	Class of 2026 B.S. in Biochemistry	"Being an environmental steward is a meaningful opportunity to advocate for environmental protection and actively engage in a community committed to sustainability. I strongly believe it is our responsibility to care for and preserve the Earth. I am enthusiastic about this role, as it allows me to represent the sustainability initiatives and values we uphold, while contributing to a greener and more sustainable campus environment."
Elias Barber	Class of 2026 B.S. in Biology and Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Environmental Science. Minor in Zoology.	"Being an Environmental Steward means that I know I have an impact on campus sustainability and that the college listens to students. I get to see the fruits of mine and other Stewards' labor every time I walk around campus. I'm happy that I can represent students while making campus a happy, healthier, and greener space."
Jenna Coleman	Class of 2027 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Environmental & Outdoor Education. Minor in Botany.	"I love to spend time playing outdoors: building gardens, looking for birds and bugs, (trying to) identify plants, and sharing my excitement with others. I am looking forward to being a part of the Stewards program for the opportunity to come up with creative ways to solve sustainability challenges on campus and for the chances to deepen other's care for and understanding of the natural world and how it is intertwined with our every action."
Jennie Conner	Class 2027 B.F.A. in Theatre Arts-Design and Production. Minor in Sociology	"Being a steward allows me to help bridge the gap between my love for theatre and my love for the outdoors. I love being able to educate on the environment in practical and hands-on forms such as our compositing program. The program has also given me several opportunities to learn more in fields I had no idea about and dive deeper into what I know and love already."
Rachel Davis	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Environmental Policy & Advocacy. B.A. in Political Science, concentration in Pre-Law. Minor in English.	"Being an Environmental Steward means that I am able to aid in the College’s effort to promote sustainability. This enables me to help make Catawba a place where students feel seen and heard. Through the Environmental Stewards program, we have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the community even long after we are gone."
Yahaira Galan Cruzes	Class of 2026 B.S. in Biology and Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Sustainable Leadership & Planning. Minor in Chemistry.	"Being a Steward is incredibly important to me because it empowers me to develop vital skills in project planning and execution. This experience has not only boosted my confidence but also enhanced my ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams. Through this role, I've gained invaluable insights into environmental careers and have fostered a holistic approach to sustainability, preparing me for a future where I can make a meaningful impact. "
Gabe Molnar	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Natural Resource Management.	"I enjoy being a part of the Environmental Stewards because of the education and outreach we are able to do within our local community."
Kaden Reynolds	Class of 2026 B.S. in Sustainable Business. Minor in History.	"Sustainability and doing what's best for the environment has been a part of my thought process for as long as I can remember. The Stewards program gives me the opportunity to make a real difference at Catawba by being involved in on campus projects. I am very grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to spending my senior year as an Environmental Steward."
Connor Sisk	Class of 2028 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Natural Resource Management.	"My name is Connor and I love music, classic short stories, movies, and nature. I'm excited to be in the Stewards program to help sustainability efforts on campus and take advantage of opportunities like implementing and maintaining pollinator gardens around campus."
Elena Strozewski	Class of 2027 B.S. in Environmental Science & Sustainability, concentration in Natural Resource Management. Minors in Botany and Ecology.	"Being an Environmental Steward means that I can help educate other people on campus about doing things to help protect the planet we live on. I get to help people who maybe do not think about it as often, understand what it looks like to preserve our future and the steps they themselves can take in order to help others realize this as well."
Madeline Ubry	Class of 2028 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentrations in Sustainable Leadership & Planning and Natural Resource Management. Minors in Ecology, Zoology, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technology.	"Being an Environmental Steward has been a dream of mine since I stepped on campus, and I am so excited to be given the opportunity. I love all things nature and want to help protect our environment, and I want to help others learn to love and serve our planet. I can't wait to work with a passionate and dedicated team and make 'good go far' together on and off campus."
Kisase "KJ" Uwandji	Class of 2028 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability	My name is KJ, I'm an ENV major, an E-sports player, and an SGA member. I'm excited to be a Steward, I can't wait to meet my peers and see how the sausage gets made!
Tylen Van Abel	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Policy & Advocacy. Minors in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technology and Politics.	"I love getting to be a Steward because I get to use what I have learned to make a real positive impact on our campus. The differences I get to make while I am here will stay in place for much longer after I am gone. It is amazing getting to make change like this before I even graduate. "
Austin Wise	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentrations in Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Planning & Leadership.	“The Environmental Stewards Program has provided me with the opportunity to express my love for nature and use that to bring positive changes to campus. In addition, the program has allowed me to make impactful connections across the school and beyond.”

Meet your past Environmental Stewards:

Alli Eudy	Class of 2026 B.S. in Biology and Environment & Sustainability. Minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technology.	"I love being a steward because it allows me to meaningly contribute to sustainability initiatives on Catawba's campus. From hosting events to planting pollinator gardens, I feel more intertwined in campus life while doing work I care about."
Amal Ahmed	Class of 2027 B.A. in Economics & Finance and B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Environmental Policy & Advocacy.	"Being an Environmental Steward is important to me because I get to actively participate in various projects that work towards maintaining sustainability on our campus. Additionally, I have the opportunity to collaborate with a dedicated team."
Austin Wise	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentrations in Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Planning & Leadership.	“The Environmental Stewards Program has provided me with the opportunity to express my love for nature and use that to bring positive changes to campus. In addition, the program has allowed me to make impactful connections across the school and beyond.”
Brian Kaelo	Class of 2025 B.S. in Environmental Science, concentration in Natural Resource Management. Minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technology and Ecology.	"Being a Steward has given me the opportunity to make friends and learn a lot from my colleagues and leaders."
Carter Mayhew	Class of 2025 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Natural Resource Management.	"I enjoy being a Steward because I get to inform the campus of environmental issues and inspire them to take part in being the solution."
Delilah Hatheway	Class of 2027 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Outdoor Education.	"My role as an Environmental Steward has provided the opportunities and resources to contribute toward sustainability initiatives that visibly impact our direct community. It is a privilege to study, live, and work on a campus that supports such initiatives and invites students to participate in their development and execution!"
Elias Barber	Class of 2026 B.S. in Biology and Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Environmental Science. Minor in Zoology.	"Being an Environmental Steward means that I know I have an impact on campus sustainability and that the college listens to students. I get to see the fruits of mine and other Stewards' labor every time I walk around campus. I'm happy that I can represent students while making campus a happy, healthier, and greener space."
Ethan Stanford	Class of 2025 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Natural Resource Management.	"I joined the Environmental Stewards because I wanted to contribute to improving sustainability on campus and help inform others about its importance. Another big reason I applied was to gain valuable work experience in environmental work, sustainability, and conservation. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity!"
Gabriel Molnar	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Natural Resource Management	"I enjoy being a part of the Environmental Stewards because of the education and outreach we are able to do within our local community."
Jennie Conner	Class 2027 B.F.A. in Theatre Arts-Design and Production. Minor in Sociology	"Being a steward allows me to help bridge the gap between my love for theatre and my love for the outdoors. I love being able to educate on the environment in practical and hands-on forms such as our compositing program. The program has also given me several opportunities to learn more in fields I had no idea about and dive deeper into what I know and love already."
Junior Price	Class of 2025 B.S. in Biology and Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Environmental Science. Double Minor in Chemistry and Business Administration.	"Being an Environmental Steward is important to me because it provides me with a platform to connect with other students that are passionate about creating a sustainable future for the College. I also have been able to help educate my fellow students about ways they can be sustainable, and what the college is doing to become more sustainable. In addition to what I can teach others, being a Steward has provided me with a group of students that have knowledge about the different aspects of sustainability that I am not very familiar with, and I get to soak in all the information they share."
Keira Potts	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Policy and Advocacy.	"Being a Steward is important because it has allowed me to contribute to an environment that has enriched and fulfilled many aspects of my life. I love working alongside people who are passionate about fostering healthy relationships with our surrounding environment."
Larkin Garden	Class of 2025 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Natural Resource Management. Minors in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technology and Ecology.	"Being a Steward is important to me because I get to help members of our campus and surrounding community get more exposure to sustainability and on the flip side, I get to spend more time learning and interacting with those outside my program."
Nomsa Kamanga	Class of 2026 Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Natural Resource Management.	"As an Environemtnal Steward, I value the opportunities to lead by example and inspire others to care for their shared environment. Being a Steward at Catawba allows me to actively contribute to preserving the Campus’s natural resources while promoting environmental sustainability. Fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and ensuring a sustainable future for my community is of utmost importance and that’s what makes this program important and dear to me."
Sarah Maier	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentrations in Natural Resource Management, Environmental & Outdoor Education, and Sustainable Planning & Leadership.	"The Environmental Stewards program is important to me because we are able to make Catawba a more sustainable campus and community. As stewards we are able to educate our fellow students and faculty on how they can make small sustainable changes that lead to big impacts on campus."
Tylen Van Abel	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Policy & Advocacy. Minors in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technology and Politics.	"I love getting to be a Steward because I get to use what I have learned to make a real positive impact on our campus. The differences I get to make while I am here will stay in place for much longer after I am gone. It is amazing getting to make change like this before I even graduate. "
Vheneka Njovana	Class of 2026 B.S. in Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Sustainable Planning and Development.	“ Being a Steward has given me the opportunity to broaden my knowledge and to work with like-minded individuals. It is hard work that we do, but it is sure rewarding and worthwhile. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!”
Yahaira Galan Cruzes	Class of 2026 B.S. in Biology and Environment & Sustainability, concentration in Sustainable Leadership & Planning. Minor in Chemistry.	"Being a Steward is incredibly important to me because it empowers me to develop vital skills in project planning and execution. This experience has not only boosted my confidence but also enhanced my ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams. Through this role, I've gained invaluable insights into environmental careers and have fostered a holistic approach to sustainability, preparing me for a future where I can make a meaningful impact. "