In 2024, commuter travel accounted for 16% of Elon鈥檚 carbon emissions. Elon鈥檚 Office of Sustainability is working towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2037. As such,聽Elon uses,聽encourages聽and聽supports sustainable transportation options聽that help聽reduce carbon emissions.

Link Transit鈥檚 Blue Line runs from the Town of Elon to both Gibsonville and Burlington, Monday through Friday 5:30聽a.m.聽to 9:30 p.m.聽and Saturday from 9:25 a.m.聽to 6:30 p.m.

Link Transit鈥檚聽聽can be used to聽locate聽the exact location of buses that are currently running. Additionally,聽聽may聽be viewed for聽each聽of the bus lines.

For more information on the聽Link Transit聽bus system, visit聽聽For聽more information on sustainable transportation initiatives at Elon, please visit the聽Office of Sustainability鈥檚 website.

The shop runs聽twice a week, Mondays from 4 – 6聽p.m.聽and Fridays 3:30 – 6 p.m. If聽students聽would like to聽get free clothing but do not have any clothing on hand to聽swap聽they聽may commit to a sustainable habit or donate any fabric scraps on hand.

Lauren Nesbit聽鈥�27聽is the current outreach intern for the Office of Sustainability, and part of her role is managing the Pop-Up Swap Shop.

鈥淚 really love working on it because I get to meet so many people on campus passionate about personal style and sustainable fashion,” said Nesbit.

Additionally, Nesbit emphasized the importance of student donations in helping聽maintain聽the Swap Shop鈥檚 inventory and ability to reach more members of the Elon community.

鈥淭he wider variety of donations we get, the wider variety of customers we can serve, so never be afraid to donate what you have/ Every donation helps someone else achieve their dream closet in a sustainable way,” she聽added.

For more information on聽sustainable events聽and initiatives across聽campus, visit the聽Office of Sustainability鈥檚 website. To view dates and times of specific events, view聽the聽

鈥淪ustainability, health and wellness are deeply connected because the health of people is inseparable from the health of the environments we live in,鈥� said Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach. 鈥淐lean air, safe water, nutritious food systems and access to green spaces all support both environmental sustainability and human wellbeing.鈥�

A group of Elon students learned firsthand how these connections can come to life during an alternative break experience.

Alternative breaks, coordinated by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, provide students with opportunities to engage in experiential learning while serving the community. Each experience is student-led, with coordinators playing a key role in shaping the experience, including selecting the location, theme and building relationships with community partners. Additionally, two faculty or staff members are a part of each program and serve as learning partners with the student leaders.

“Alternative break experiences immerse students in communities and allow them to understand a place through its history and culture, while also allowing them to learn from and work alongside community leaders and residents,鈥� said Bob Frigo, assistant dean and director of Kernodle Center for Civic Life. 鈥淭hat combination is a truly powerful community-based engaged learning opportunity.”

For the recent trip to Savannah, Georgia, Betsy Knapp 鈥�28 and Nivea Millner 鈥�26 served as student coordinators, with support from Kaylee Hudson G鈥�26 and Kassidy Puckett ’24 G鈥�26. When Knapp and Millner met last spring to plan the experience, one interest quickly emerged: sustainability.

鈥淲e recognized that many students on campus are passionate about environmental issues, further reinforcing our decision,鈥� Knapp said. 鈥淎s I learned more about the environmental challenges facing Savannah and the work local organizations are doing to address them, it confirmed that sustainability would be a meaningful and relevant focus.鈥�

Knapp and Millner鈥檚 perspectives were also reflected among the students on the trip.

鈥淎lmost all of the participants on our trip had an existing connection with sustainability either through service or their major,鈥� Millner said. 鈥淭he experience became less about understanding the issue itself and more about connecting with the community we are seeking to serve and strengthening connections with other students at Elon.鈥�

This shared foundation shaped how students approached their work throughout the week.

Sustainability in action

Through partnerships with organizations, such as Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Re: Purpose Savannah and the Ocean Discovery Center, students engaged in hands-on work addressing food insecurity, environmental conservation and community education.

But beyond the service itself, students began to see sustainability not just as environmental action, but as a reflection of everyday choices and their impact on others.

For some, that realization began with access to food. One student reflected on the privilege of choosing what to eat – something that became more apparent while working with Second Harvest, where even slightly damaged food could make a meaningful difference to someone else.

鈥淚t got me thinking that I am one of the people who is privileged enough to choose the box that is 鈥榩retty enough鈥� to eat, Mealnie Alarcon 鈥�29 said. 鈥淪ome people just don鈥檛 have that privilege.鈥�

Others were struck by how small actions can create a large-scale impact.

鈥淚n just two hours at Second Harvest, we were able to make 4,100 meals,鈥� Knapp shared enthusiastically. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 such a small time commitment, but it really makes a big difference in the community.鈥�

On Tybee Island, the connection between environmental health and community well-being came into focus. As students began collecting trash around the beach, the sheer number of items they collected became evidence of how individual behavior can affect entire ecosystems.

鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting to see how much of an issue trash is, just looking at all that we picked up today,鈥� Knapp said.

This reflection led students to rethink not only how they engage in cleanup efforts, but how they can prevent harm in the first place.

鈥淲henever you put effort into trying to make an impact, you can see a greater impact,鈥� Millner said. 鈥� You should also make sure you鈥檙e not contributing to the problem.鈥�

Service enhancing well-being

These experiences also shaped students鈥� own well-being. For some, the trip provided a mental reset.

鈥淚 have a lot of things going on right now, Alarcon expressed. 鈥淭his trip was an escape. I got a mental break from these things going on campus.鈥�

For others, it created opportunities to build new relationships, strengthen leadership skills and engage more deeply with the communities around them.

鈥淚t lets people meet other people,鈥� Millner said. 鈥淔orcing you to talk to each other and figure things out together.鈥�

That sense of connection expanded beyond undergraduate students. Hodson and Puckett both noted how the experience supported their professional growth and deepened their engagement with students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 allowed me to build more relationships with students outside of my office,鈥� Puckett said.

鈥淭he experience has given me different ways and tools to get out in the community and meet and talk to other people,鈥� Hodson added.

By the end of the week, sustainability was no longer just about protecting the planet. It became a way of thinking 鈥� one rooted in care for people, places and the environment.

鈥淏y spending a week immersed in a community working closely with community partners, students get to see how these organizations play a crucial role in creating healthy and sustainable communities,鈥� said Andrew Moffa, assistant director of the Kernodle Center.

The recognizes mid-career individuals who are significantly contributing to the advancement of sustainability in higher education. Durr is one of ten individuals chosen to receive this award in its second year. Selection was based on the impact recipients are making in the field of higher education sustainability through one or more of the following: programs and projects; products, presentations and publications; service and mentorship.

鈥淚 am truly honored to receive the AASHE Fellows Award,鈥� said Durr. 鈥淚mpactful sustainability work is not done in isolation. I am grateful for the collaboration, support and involvement of many Elon staff, students and faculty, as well as colleagues at other institutions, and for the support and opportunities provided by AASHE.鈥�

Durr has been at Elon since 2008, when she was hired as the university鈥檚 first full-time sustainability professional. Since her arrival, Elon鈥檚 sustainability program has advanced significantly and received local and national recognition.

鈥淪ince joining Elon, Elaine has approached this work with passion, creativity and a deep commitment to cultivating sustainability within all aspects of the Elon community,鈥� said Brad Moore, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Chief Facilities Officer. 鈥淭his is a tremendous honor for her to be recognized as one of the top 10 leaders doing this work. We are incredibly proud of her and grateful for the lasting difference she continues to make at Elon.鈥�

The AASHE Fellows Award is one of four annual awards given by AASHE.

鈥淭he 2026 AASHE Sustainability Award recipients reflect the momentum and innovation driving change across higher education. Among their community, these individuals are true changemakers鈥攖urning bold ideas into action and setting a powerful example of leadership and impact for the field,鈥� said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser.

To learn more about AASHE鈥檚 Sustainability Awards programs, please visit .

Students,聽faculty聽and staff are encouraged to attend as many events as you can for your chance to win various prizes! First, second and third place winners will be聽determined聽by those who attend the most events throughout the week. There will be one set of student winners and another set of faculty/staff winners. More聽competition details may be viewed on the聽

Huria Tahiry 鈥�26, environmental justice intern for Elon鈥檚 Office of Sustainability, has attended several Earth Week events over the past three years, and says that Earth Week is聽鈥渁 wonderful opportunity to learn, make new friends, have fun, and take a moment to appreciate the Earth.” Tahiry is particularly excited for this year鈥檚 Earth Week, since there will be more events聽than聽any previous聽year.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS聽

Saturday, April 18

SUSTAINABLE DAY OF SERVICE | VARIOUS TIMES & LOCATIONS (TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED)
9 – 12 p.m. | PARK REVITALIZATION WITH ALAMANCE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION

Help restore one of the local Alamance parks that聽serves聽the whole community! The event will be at聽Swepsonville聽River Park (2472聽Boywood聽Rd.聽Swepsonville聽N.C.) The activities will include repainting the entrance gate, and staining two Kiosks, and a couple of park benches.

Transportation will be provided from the Elon Express Bus Stop between Inman Admissions and the Library

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | MORROWTOWN COMMUNITY GARDEN聽WORK DAY聽| MORROWTOWN COMMUNITY GARDEN

Spend time outdoors, connect with others, and support a space that provides fresh food and connection opportunities in Burlington! Come get聽your hands dirty, learn something new, and be part of growing something meaningful together. The聽Morrowtown聽Community Garden was founded and is managed by the聽Morrowtown聽Community Group, which was formed to inspire positive social and environmental change for a diverse community in Burlington that deserves to thrive. Participants should wear clothing and shoes they聽don鈥檛聽mind getting dirty. Please bring a reusable water bottle and sunscreen. Transportation to the event will be from the Elon Express spot outside of the library.

1:30 – 4:30 p.m. | KAYAK CLEAN UP | LAKE MACKINTOSH

Take care of local Lake Mackintosh while enjoying the beauty of nature. Kayaks, gloves and trash bags聽provided.聽New and聽experienced kayakers are welcome!聽聽Please wear聽clothing聽you聽don鈥檛聽mind getting dirty and bring a reusable water bottle and sunscreen.聽Transportation to the event will be from the Elon Express stop outside of the library.

Monday, April 20

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | CAREER CLOSET | UPSTAIRS LAKESIDE

Join us for the Career Closet 鈥済rand opening鈥� for a special one-day pop-up shopping event!

The Career Closet empowers Elon students by increasing access to professional and formal attire while fostering leadership, service, and community impact. In partnership with the Student Professional Development Center, the Center for Leadership, the Office of Sustainability and Student Involvement, this on-campus resource encourages students to think ahead, support one another and give back to the Elon community.

This event is open to all members of the Elon community.

Have聽extra professional or formal wear? Donate gently used items from April 7th鈥揂pril 17th in the Center for Leadership to give back, support fellow students and promote sustainability on campus.

Stop by, shop sustainably and find the perfect look for your next interview, internship, or formal event!

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | ORGANIC MOCKTAILS | CLOHAN DINING HALL

Come try a delicious mocktail featuring Certified Organic Tractor Beverage and learn about organic produce with Elon Dining鈥檚 Sustainability Manager Leslie Bosse!

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | SOOTHING SOUNDS OF SUCCULENTS | NUMEN LUMEN SACRED SPACE

Step into a space designed to help you slow down, breathe deeply and reconnect. Soothing Sounds & Sprouts is a mental-health-centered gathering where calming music and hands-on planting come together to nurture you.

Enjoy a curated soundscape of gentle, restorative music; learn how different sounds can聽impact聽mood; and plant your own small herb to take home鈥攁 living reminder of growth, care and resilience. We will share simple grounding practices you can use anytime stress feels overwhelming and use our senses to be more present.

Whether you stay for five minutes or the full experience, this event invites you to pause, reset, and tend to yourself鈥攂ecause just like plants, we thrive when we receive light, care, and space to grow.

4 – 6 p.m.聽 | POP UP SWAP SHOP | DOWNSTAIRS MOSELEY
Looking to refresh your closet?聽Have聽any聽perfectly good聽clothing you no longer wear? Bring it to the Pop-Up Swap Shop to trade for new-to-you shirts, pants, dresses, and more! No clothing to swap? No problem! Commit to a sustainable habit OR donate any fabric scraps on hand to earn free clothing!

The聽Pop Up聽Swap Shop聽runs in聽downstairs Moseley every Monday (4 – 6 p.m.) and Friday (3:30-6 pm) during the Spring 2026 semester.

4:15 – 5:30 p.m. | BOOK DISCUSSION 鈥� SAVING US: A CLIMATE SCIENTIST鈥橲 CASE FOR HOPE AND HEALING IN A DIVIDED WORLD | LOY FARM

In preparation for Katharine Hayhoe鈥檚 keynote address on Wednesday, April 22, join Faculty Fellow for Sustainability Scott Morrison for a discussion about Hayhoe鈥檚聽most recent book. Light snacks will be provided for those who register.

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | HONORING INDIGENOUS VOICES | CREDE

Join us for a conversation with Corey Roberts, assistant professor of Native American and Indigenous studies, exploring indigenous history, culture and perspectives connected to this region. This event aims to create space for learning,聽reflection聽and dialogue within the Elon community. Traditional food will be shared as part of the gathering.

Tuesday, April 21

9:40-10:20 a.m. | COLLEGE COFFEE聽

Stop by the Office of Sustainability鈥檚 table at College Coffee to learn about sustainability efforts on campus.聽Don鈥檛聽forget your reusable mug to enter to win $100 Phoenix Cash!

11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | COASTAL CRAFTS: SHELL JEWELRY DISHES | YOUNG COMMONS

Create or聽take home聽oyster and wampum shell jewelry dishes while learning about their ecological significance and Indigenous cultural importance in the Northeastern United States.

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | GARDEN PARTY | MCEWEN DINING HALL

McEwen Dining Hall will feature garden party themed foods, including small plates and plant-forward options. Come join us for this super fun and sustainable lunch!

4 – 5 p.m. | STARS CELEBRATION | LAKESIDE MEETING ROOMS

Celebrate 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 most recent Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Report with food, interactive聽activities聽and exciting prizes! Learn about Elon鈥檚 sustainability efforts, connect with聽others聽and discover opportunities to support sustainability at Elon. This event is open to all students,聽faculty聽and staff.

Wednesday, April 22

11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | PICKLE POP UP | LAKESIDE DINING HALL
Join Elon Dining to taste how delicious and sustainable pickling can be!

12 – 2聽 p.m. | TOTE-ALLY SUSTAINABLE | MEDALLION PLAZA
Join us to paint your own reusable tote bag while learning about how to reduce waste!

5 – 6:30 p.m. | BELTANE CELEBRATION | ELON COMMUNITY GARDEN
Beltane is a time of renewal, protection and community where people can come together to share stories, offerings for deities, and have fun by dancing and making crafts. Beltane is historically a practical agricultural and seasonal holiday signifying the start of the growing seasons and time of abundance. Come celebrate together by making flower crowns, mini maypoles, and enjoying聽good food!

7 – 8 p.m. | EARTH WEEK KEYNOTE: KATHARINE HAYHOE, 鈥淪OLVING CLIMATE CHANGE STARTS WITH US (BUT NOT THE WAY YOU THINK!)鈥� | MCKINNON HALL, MOSELEY CENTER

鈥淲hat can I do?鈥� is most people鈥檚 top climate question. The truth is, while our personal choices matter, the most important action any of us can take聽isn鈥檛聽changing a lightbulb, eating a plant-based burger or buying an electric vehicle (EV).聽Drawing on聽lessons from science, history, and social movements, Katherine Hayhoe shows how using our voices to call for systemic change is the first step towards catalyzing the tipping points that will help us build a better future. Solving climate change does start with us鈥攂ut in ways far more powerful than we might imagine.

Katharine Hayhoe is the chief scientist for聽The Nature聽Conservancy and a Horn Distinguished Professor and endowed professor of public policy and public law at Texas Tech University. She has served as a lead author for the second, third and fourth U.S. National Climate Assessments. She is the author of the best-selling book 鈥淪aving Us: A Climate Scientist鈥檚 Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.鈥� Hayhoe has been named to lists including the TIME 100 Most Influential People and Fortune鈥檚 50 World鈥檚 Greatest Leaders.

Sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, the Environmental Studies Department, Facilities Management, the School of Communications, the Sustainable Enterprises program and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.

9 – 10 p.m. | S鈥橫ORES WITH OUTDOORS | BECK POOL PATIO

Join Elon Outdoors and the Eco-Reps for a special Earth Week S鈥檓ores with Outdoors! Make your own sustainable bug spray so that you can enjoy more time outdoors.

Thursday, April 23

9:50 – 10:30 a.m. | NUMEN LUMEN | NUMEN LUMEN PAVILION 110

The challenges we face expand our perspectives. The moments that leave us speechless have the power to change lives. The stories we tell help us to make sense of these challenges, moments, and everything in between.

Grounding ourselves in this moment is how we show up in an unexpected and ever-changing world.

This week鈥檚 speaker is Becca Bishopric Patterson, associate director of the聽 Gender and LGBTQIA Center at 福利亚洲国产精品 where her work focuses on gender equity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, survivor support and violence prevention. For the last 15 years, Becca鈥檚 life and work聽has聽been dedicated to聽facilitating聽healing, justice, sustainability, and connection within communities in professional and personal roles. Becca has served on leadership and organizing teams across Alamance County, currently leading initiatives within the Alamance Racial Equity Alliance and Transcend Alamance. Bischipric Patterson lives in Elon with her spouse, toddlers, and (many) pets, and loves spending time with friends envisioning a world where all life can thrive.

5 – 7 p.m. PM | PARTY FOR THE PLANET | MOSELEY WEST LAWN

Celebrate sustainability with fun activities and live entertainment! This event will also feature a swap shop where students can trade their gently used clothes for new (gently used) clothes.

5 – 7:30 PM | EARTH FEST | LAKE MARY NELL

Try over a dozen dishes featuring local foods and meet the local聽partners themselves聽at Elon Dining鈥檚 Earth Fest!聽You鈥檒l聽even get to meet our most famous local partner, Pearl the dairy cow, from Ran-Lew Dairy.

Friday, April 24

PIZZA & PRAYERS FOR THE PLANET | VARIOUS TIMES | MCBRIDE GATHERING SPACE (NUMEN LUMEN)

Join the Truitt Center鈥檚 Rabbi Maor Greene, Father Peter Tremblay and Imam Shane Atkinson for Earth Week themed sermons and guided discussion on being caretakers of the natural world. All are welcome to attend one or聽all of聽the following sessions:

12:15 -12:45 p.m.聽 鈥� Catholic Mass
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.聽 鈥� Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Maor
1:15 – 1:30 p.m. 鈥� Jumuah Prayer

3:30-6 p.m. | POP UP SWAP SHOP | DOWNSTAIRS MOSELEY

Looking to refresh your closet?聽Have聽any聽perfectly good聽clothing you no longer wear? Bring it to the Pop-Up Swap Shop to trade for new-to-you shirts, pants, dresses, and more! No clothing to swap?聽聽No problem! Commit to a sustainable habit OR donate any fabric scraps on hand to earn free clothing!

The聽Pop Up聽Swap Shop聽runs in聽downstairs Moseley every Monday (4-6 pm) and Friday (3:30-6 pm) during the Spring 2026 semester.

8:00-9:00 p.m. | SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW | GREAT HALL, SATO COMMONS

Join us for a student-led sustainable fashion show celebrating the creativity and potential of upcycled fashion! Featuring three main themes of聽comfy, casual, and classy, student designers and聽models are聽showcasing聽the endless possibilities of sustainable styles! Come early to enjoy sustainable sweets and a scrap fruit mocktail prior to the show!

Sunday, April 26

1 – 3 p.m. | ZERO WASTE BASEBALL GAME | LATHAM PARK

Join us at Latham Park for a Zero Waste Baseball Game鈥攚here cheering for Elon also means cheering for the planet! Enjoy the game while helping us reduce landfill waste through composting and recycling.聽Come learn聽how small actions can make聽a big difference聽and help us show that game day can be both fun and sustainable.

Community Well-Being: How has sustainability helped you feel more connected to a community鈥攅ither on campus or beyond?

Finn Hughes 鈥�28: 聽On campus, it鈥檚 helped me connect with people who share the same values and passions, whether that鈥檚 for the environment, animals or sustainability in general. It鈥檚 helped me build friendships, but it鈥檚 also shaped my moral compass and pushed me to get more involved beyond campus. I鈥檝e had opportunities I didn鈥檛 even know were possible, like trips where we can go to the beach, do cleanups and take part in volunteer work.

Sophie Frank 鈥�29: On campus, Eco Reps and the Office of Sustainability host a lot of events, and since many of my friends are involved in organizing them, I鈥檓 able to show up and participate. It feels like we鈥檙e all contributing to sustainability on campus as a community, and that鈥檚 something that really brings us together. There鈥檚 always something going on.

Grace Smith 鈥�27: I鈥檝e been really involved with the Sustainability LLC, especially last year as an RA. I got to see the community we built with the first-year students on my floor. It gave us a way to connect around something bigger than ourselves while still making a real impact in small ways. That shared commitment really shaped a strong sense of community on campus.

Lulu Welch 鈥�28: Between my classes, especially the more environmentally focused ones, and this trip, it鈥檚 nice to be around people who care about the environment as much as I do. It can be hard to find people who also care about sustainability, even though it is such an important issue right now.

Emotional Well-Being: In what ways does practicing sustainability support your emotional well-being or sense of purpose?

Hughes:聽 It definitely hurts my emotional well-being to see the things that are happening to our planet. But practicing sustainability also helps me with my emotional and social well-being. Practicing聽activities, like cleanups and seeing the positive impact that I can have on the planet, helps me to feel rejuvenated.

Frank: The Earth is very valuable, and honestly, it feels good to be able to take care of it and do what I’m supposed to do. When you make sustainable choices, you influence and engage others. It is rewarding.

Smith: It makes me feel like I’m part of something larger than myself. We all have to be a part of promoting sustainability, educating ourselves and others and living a sustainable lifestyle. All those little things add up, especially when a large group of people is doing them. It feels good to support the well-being of others and the world around me.

Welch: Sustainability is important because it鈥檚 how we preserve our environment. It鈥檚 something I practice every day. If I didn鈥檛, I鈥檇 feel like I wasn鈥檛 practicing what I preach and I would be a hypocrite.

Seeing people not care about the environment can be upsetting, because this is our Earth and we need to take care of it. But at the same time, seeing people who do care gives me hope for the future. It makes me emotional because it reminds me that there are people who are paying attention and trying to make a difference.

Physical: Well-Being: What are some sustainable choices you make in your daily routine that also support your physical health?

Hughes: I try to use less plastic, which is good, because it limits the microplastics in your body. I’m also vegan and eat homegrown and fresh produce. I also try to avoid processed foods.

I also try to limit my emissions by walking or biking instead of driving whenever I can.

Frank: I am big on spending time outdoors, walking outside and not using single-use plastic. I am also a vegetarian, which is something that affects my day-to-day lifestyle and overall helps the environment.

Smith: I’ve really been into spending more time outdoors and supporting my national and state parks. When I am outside, I try to pick up any trash and keep the environment clean.

Welch: I always pick up trash when I see it on the ground, and I try to avoid unnecessary plastics by using reusable items. I also try to shop for organic food.

I do a lot of gardening, mostly flowers. I grew up helping take care of my yard, and my mom loves growing flowers, so that鈥檚 something I鈥檝e always enjoyed. I鈥檝e tried growing vegetables too, but being from Massachusetts, that didn鈥檛 always go very well. I also avoid using pesticides or anything that could be harmful to the environment.

Social Well-Being: How have conversations or shared experiences around sustainability influenced your relationships with others?

Hughes: I鈥檓 able to relate to others, whether through protests or shared involvement in sustainability, which helps me feel like I鈥檓 not alone. It can be overwhelming at times. It鈥檚 easy to feel like one person can鈥檛 make a difference. But when you鈥檙e surrounded by others who care, it reminds you that your actions matter and together you can get more done, take action and create more opportunities to make an impact.

Frank: Through my major, I鈥檝e been able to connect with a lot of people and build close relationships. I鈥檝e also done volunteer work in western North Carolina, where I met new people. Experiences like this trip and the work we鈥檙e doing right now, are already helping me to build new connections.

Smith: Even with this trip, I鈥檝e built a lot of friendships. Coming together in support of a common cause, like sustainability, has helped me build relationships with others who are working toward that same goal.

I came into this trip not knowing anyone, and I鈥檓 leaving with friends, all because we shared the same purpose: promoting sustainability.

Welch: I think a lot of people don鈥檛 fully understand the importance of sustainability, and that鈥檚 the first step. It includes having conversations and educating others so they can better understand the impact of sustainability.

There are plenty of people聽who don鈥檛 really believe in sustainability, which I find funny, because there鈥檚 so much science and research that shows why it matters. It鈥檚 how we keep our environment clean, healthy and moving forward.

Financial Well-Being: How has sustainability shaped the way you think about spending, saving or using resources?

Hughes: 聽Even when I go to the store, I鈥檒l pick something up and then stop and think, 鈥榃ait, is this good for the environment?鈥� It鈥檚 made me more aware of where things come from and what happens after I use them. I think documentaries and experiences like seeing trash on the beach really put that into perspective. It makes you realize how your everyday choices add up and what they actually mean.

Frank: I try not to use single-use plastic. That鈥檚 one of the things I try to do the most. When I go to the store, I try to avoid聽plastic bags and water bottles as much as I can. If I do use them, I make sure to recycle whenever possible.

Smith: I鈥檝e really tried to buy less plastic and throw away less. I avoid things like individually wrapped snacks, like Goldfish. It鈥檚 the little things that add up.

That鈥檚 really how it has impacted me. I think more about what I鈥檓 using and what happens to it after. Where is the garbage I produce going? Is it being recycled properly? Is it actually being turned into something else?

I refuse to use single-use plastics, like one-use water bottles. I鈥檓 not a fan. I鈥檝e also been trying to bring my own bags every time I grocery shop. All of those small choices are ways I鈥檓 trying to stop contributing to overconsumption and the mass production of plastic, and really downsize my impact.

Welch: I only use reusable products and try to avoid food that is overly processed or full of hormones by shopping for organic foods.聽 Overall, I try to live my life as sustainably as possible.

Purpose Well-Being: How has your understanding of sustainability influenced your sense of purpose or the impact you want to make after Elon?

Hughes: Sustainability has shaped a lot of my purpose because I鈥檓 really passionate about it. It鈥檚 changed me to focus more on action rather than being passive, telling people what needs to be done. Getting hands-on has made me more confident and more passionate about getting involved, whether that鈥檚 through school boards, larger organizations or even speaking opportunities.

It鈥檚 also helped me realize that I have a purpose that鈥檚 bigger than myself. I am able to talk about sustainability in ways that feel more accessible. Sometimes it can seem distant or overwhelming, but bringing it back to everyday actions makes it feel more real and something people can actually connect to.

Frank: With my major, I want to go into corporate sustainability, more on the business side. My goal is to work with larger companies to find ways for them to become more sustainable, while also helping engage businesses and the public in making choices that better support our environment.

Smith: I want to live a sustainable life. As a nursing major. I see there’s so much single-use plastic, things being thrown away in the healthcare industry. I would love to someday make an impact in the healthcare system and make it more sustainable. I want my own life to be sustainable, but there’s more work to be done toward a bigger cause here. Many of our industries aren’t promoting sustainability, and I want to make an impact there.

Welch: For me, sustainability has given me a great sense of purpose. I grew up in a town that was big on recycling. You could even get fined if you didn鈥檛 do it. Because of that, my dad has always been a big recycler and it became something that was important to me, too.

I鈥檝e also always been interested in science and biology, so over time those interests started to align with my goals. Now, I want to go into research focused on sustainability or ecological conservation.

Through this shared experience, students reflected on how聽sustainability isn鈥檛 just a single action. It鈥檚 a mindset shaped by everyday choices that support the environment and strengthen their own well-being across the six dimensions of well-being.

Hayhoe is the chief scientist for聽The Nature聽Conservancy and a Horn Distinguished Professor and endowed professor of public policy and public law at Texas Tech University. She has served as a lead author for the second, third and fourth U.S. National Climate Assessments. She is the author of the best-selling book 鈥淪aving Us: A Climate Scientist鈥檚 Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.鈥� Hayhoe has been named to lists including the TIME 100 Most Influential People and Fortune鈥檚 50 World鈥檚 Greatest Leaders.

Hayhoe鈥檚 talk will focus on the importance of calling for systemic change聽to聽tackle the climate crisis.聽Many people are eager to learn what they can do as individuals to help address climate change.聽While聽personal聽actions聽are important,聽Hayhoe emphasizes that聽solving聽climate change聽is dependent on people using their voices to help build a better future.

Hayhoe is also the creator of 鈥淭alking Climate鈥�,聽an online聽newsletter that shares helpful climate science and solutions through weekly聽climate聽updates, positive聽climate聽stories and more.聽

To view the full schedule of Earth Week events聽and read more about the聽upcoming聽keynote, visit the聽Office of Sustainability鈥檚 website.聽聽

The聽Elon聽Farmer鈥檚 Market聽runs聽every Thursday at the Elon Community Church parking lot from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (271 N. Williamson Ave., Elon). Typical items sold at the market include fruits and vegetables, seasonal聽fresh-cut聽flowers, homemade bread,聽eggs聽and聽more.

Other聽occasional聽and聽guest聽vendors聽sell items including聽pottery,聽jewelry, crafts,聽clothing聽and聽apothecary products.聽Additionally,聽Alamance County Public Libraries聽attends the Farmer鈥檚 Market every other week聽to encourage聽residents to take advantage of the books and library resources available in Alamance聽County.

鈥淲e love when 福利亚洲国产精品 students and faculty not only shop but also聽participate聽in the market,” said Sarah Bass, the manager of the farmer’s market. “We have had many students聽participate聽as guest vendors and musicians. We also have a professor selling her artwork at the market this season鈥�.

Elon鈥檚 Office of Sustainability will be tabling during聽opening聽day of聽the Farmer鈥檚 market聽about聽鈥渦gly鈥� produce聽and shopping sustainably. For more information on the聽Farmer鈥檚 Market, visit the聽聽For聽additional聽information on sustainability-related events at Elon, visit the聽Office of Sustainability鈥檚 website.

AASHE鈥檚 STARS program boasts over 1,200 participants representing 58 countries, making it the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university鈥檚 sustainability efforts.聽Participants聽report information聽across five areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.

Senior Director of Sustainability Elaine Durr spearheads the compilation of the STARS report. 鈥淭he STARS report is a comprehensive assessment of聽university-wide聽sustainability efforts and requires聽involvement from聽many individuals across campus,鈥� Durr said. 鈥淚聽appreciate their contributions and collective effort.鈥�

The STARS report illustrates that聽progress on Elon鈥檚聽sustainability goals聽requires campus-wide collaboration. By breaking down categories into subcategories and credits, each with its own score, the report also serves as a practical tool for pinpointing areas of improvement and guiding future sustainability endeavors.

鈥淪TARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,鈥� said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. 鈥湼＠侵薰� has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.鈥�

To learn about the programs and practices that contributed to Elon鈥檚 STARS Silver rating,聽.

Unlike other聽rating聽or ranking systems, this program is open to all institutions of higher education, and the criteria that聽determine聽a聽STARS聽rating are transparent and accessible to anyone.聽This is Elon鈥檚 first report using the聽updated聽.聽For more information, visit the聽.

One of those teams, purchasing & technology, shows how sustainability can fit naturally into the work people already do by working towards 1) reducing the campus printing footprint by digitizing self-service options and encouraging electronic resources, 2) sourcing technology that uses environmentally conscious best practices and manage its lifecycle responsibly, and 3) educating and engaging the campus community about sustainable technology practices.

Those strategies might sound complex, but the team says most of the work builds on existing processes and collaborations. Adding sustainability often means asking one more question or making one small adjustment.

鈥淲e regularly partner with purchasing on contract management and business agreements,鈥� said Pat Donohue, one of the team leads and the university鈥檚 deputy chief information officer. 鈥淎dding a request for sustainability transparency from our vendors is a natural improvement of existing processes to align with university strategic objectives.聽 This is an example of how bold strategy can often be a minor adjustment in organizational behavior.鈥�

Patrick Schwartz is the assistant director of procure to pay at Elon and one of the team leads for the purchasing & technology implementation team. He added, 鈥淛ust by being part of this team, the collaboration between our two departments was already strong, and it strengthens every day.鈥�

When IT evaluates vendors, the team already asks about data security, storage and compliance. Now, they also ask vendors to disclose their carbon footprint and energy consumption. It is a simple step that helps Elon make informed decisions about the products and services it uses.

In addition, Schwartz said the purchasing team can see the purchasing trends on the backend and, leveraging their strong relationship with IT, work together to assure that vendors are providing products to campus that are environmentally and fiscally sustainable and responsible.

Collaboration creates momentum

Collaboration has been key to success. Conversations about sustainability often uncover other opportunities to improve processes, strengthen partnerships and share resources.

Edith Smith shared one of those ideas. She serves as a purchasing agent at Elon and is a member of the purchasing & technology implementation team. She worked with Amazon to ensure that the first products displayed when employees search for a product are those that have sustainable qualities. In addition to this, Smith and others are looking into ways to encourage the university to increase its partnership with local vendors to reduce environmental impact and support the local economy.

鈥淚t can be difficult to put a list of vendors together for a campus with decentralized purchasing, but for me, it鈥檚 important to ask how we can encourage our colleagues on campus to use local vendors more regularly and to work with vendors that will cut emissions,” said Smith.

鈥淭he focus on sustainability gave us a framework to accelerate improvements we were already pursuing,鈥� said Donohue. 鈥淚t has been a clear example of how bringing together diverse mindsets with a shared purpose can improve service delivery, streamline business processes and create long-term value for the university.

Schwartz agrees with this sentiment and adds that the team is educating people to consider which sustainable products are offered by vendors.

鈥淣one of us can do this work on our own,鈥� he added.

Fiscal responsibility meets sustainability

One of the most significant changes was extending the lifecycle of university-owned laptops and desktops to five years.

鈥淲e ensure an extended lifecycle by applying updates and doing necessary maintenance on the equipment throughout its usable lifecycle,” said Rebecca Black,聽director of campus technology support and member of the purchasing & technology implementation team.

When the lifecycle of the technology ends for us, it goes through a chain of disposal through an agreement with ethically responsible vendors, who repurpose the equipment or its components.

鈥淭he equipment we recover doesn鈥檛 just go into a waste facility. It has another, purposeful life afterward,鈥� she added.

Donohue added that the proceeds from selling depreciated equipment is reinvested to subsidize advanced support of Elon computers.

鈥淭his benefits our community through faster repairs and maintenance while allowing campus technology support specialists to focus on high-value service delivery than hardware break/fix efforts. It鈥檚 a win-win,鈥� he said.

The same principle applies to reducing the number of printers on campus. Fewer devices mean less energy consumption and less paper use, but the change also reflects a cultural shift. Convenience often competes with sustainability, and the team acknowledges that change takes time.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a fine line between doing what鈥檚 easy and convenient and making an extra, impactful effort towards sustainability,鈥� Beck said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in the moment where this is a necessary priority.鈥�

Schwartz added, 鈥淭his is one of the best examples of how our work aligns together. We evaluated paper processes on campus and moved purchase card request forms and Adobe signatures to digital processes.鈥�

In addition to the paper and cost-savings, Schwartz and Smith say that these processes also simplify and better organize employee workflows.

鈥淲hen we thoughtfully scale technology resources in ways such as consolidating printers and encouraging digitization, we also reduce costs and free-up resources that can be reinvested into new innovations that benefit the university,鈥� Beck said. 鈥淭hese efforts will also help us operate more efficiently and enhance the quality of services for our Elon campuses.鈥�

福利亚洲国产精品 the Sustainability Master Plan

The Boldly Elon Strategic Plan calls on 福利亚洲国产精品 to 鈥淓ngage the campus in sustainable practices to become carbon neutral by 2037 鈥� invest in renewable energy, reduce campus energy consumption 20 percent, purchase offsets to make the global study program carbon neutral and continue to build LEED certified buildings 鈥� and prepare students to lead lives that build a sustainable future.鈥� The 10-year Sustainability Master Plan 2025 is a roadmap for that bold commitment.