Advice from our Sustainability Club Officers

Published Oct 01, 2023 by
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ECU has several different clubs on campus that embrace sustainability in different ways. Each of these clubs has an Instagram account, linked in an article from our September newsletter. We asked officers from each of these clubs for a little information to introduce them and to give advice to new students at ECU this semester.

Owen Bergquist

Young man stands in front of ocean.

🌳Owen is an Environmental Studies major with a minor in Environmental Health from Wake Forest, NC.

🌳He is currently the president of ECO-Pirates, an officer of ReLeaf, and a member of Sustainabilibees.

🌳Owen’s advice to students who are new to ECU: “Push yourself into situations and clubs even if you don’t think you’ll like it. It never hurts to try!”

 

Emma Lou Pakulniewicz

Young woman stands in front of a sunflower field.

🌳Emma Lou is a Biology major from Wilmington, NC.

🌳She is the president of SustainabiliBEES, one of the founders of Pirate Swap, and a member of ReLeaf, Pirates on Water, and ECO-Pirates.

🌳Emma Lou’s advice to students who are new to ECU: “Take advantage of the Pirate Academic Success Center–the student tutors are the best and the extra help can really be what makes the difference in your final grade. I also recommend checking out the goldfish pond in the Old Cafeteria Complex Courtyard, because it’s such a nice feature on campus and not everyone knows it’s there.”

 

Leah Beth Warren

Young woman in purple graduation robes holding a cat.

🌳Leah Beth is a Biomedical Engineering major from Blounts Creek, NC.

🌳She is a co-founder of UterUs as well as the club’s current fellowship coordinator.

🌳Leah Beth’s advice to students who are new to ECU: “Get involved! Especially with the sustainability clubs on campus, I may be biased but these clubs are so fun, welcoming, and purposeful! Great resume boosters and you’ll have a great time too!”

 

Anna Wood

Young woman sitting on a bench with a book.

🌳Anna is a Clinical Laboratory Science major from Lexington, NC.

🌳She is the secretary for ReLeaf and a member of ECO-Pirates, SustainabiliBEES, and the Women and Gender Office Book Club.

🌳Anna’s advice to students who are new to ECU: “The best spot to hammock, in my opinion, is the sweet magnolia trees behind Jarvis Residence Hall. My biggest two pieces of advice: 1. GO TO CLASS! 2. Utilize your free resources: always check and see if ECU Libraries has a textbook before purchasing one.”

 

Erica Henry

Young woman smiles with a waterfall in the background.

🌳Erica is an Environmental Engineering major from Swansboro, North Carolina.

🌳She is an officer in ReLeaf and a member of SustainabiliBEES, ReLeaf, Pirates on Water, and ECO-Pirates.

🌳Erica’s advice to students who are new to ECU: “Be sure to check out the Pirate Academic Success Center in the Old Cafeteria Complex! They’ve got awesome resources for navigating college and doing well in your classes! And go see the fishpond in the courtyard while you’re there!”

 

Alexia Vachhani

A young woman leans against a flowering tree.
🌳Alexia is a Biology and Computer Science major from Greenville, North Carolina.

🌳She is president of ReLeaf and a member of Excessible, Helping Hands Project, Association for Computing Machinery, and the Indian Student Organization.

🌳Alexia’s advice to students who are new to ECU: “The best place to study is anywhere but your bed. And make sure to be able to balance socializing and studying! ”

 

Be sure to check out ECU’s sustainability clubs to meet more awesome people and maybe you can get some advice from our sustainability club officers, too!