ES Students at Colby

In addition to being classroom audiences, students in the Environmental Studies department take on the roles of advisors, activists, researchers, assistants, travelers and achievers.

ES Student Activism

Professor Cole instructs students during an ecology lab field trip.ES students at Colby have diverse interests and academic pursuits.

ES students are inspired to move their knowledge beyond the classroom and out into campus, the greater-Waterville community, the state and beyond. Their inspiration has taken them to the legislature in Augusta with written testimony, to local schools to teach environmental education, and to the Colby administration to build a successful case for removing bottled water on campus. These are just a few examples of the impressive activism related work that our students do. The student efforts are supported by mentoring from ES faculty and staff.

ES Students Abroad

Going abroad? Read about the experiences of ES students who have studied abroad in the past. If you are looking for more information about good programs, explore the notable programs that past ES students have found exciting and challenging.

ES Student Internships

The ES Department has limited, competitive stipends available for ES Majors. Visit the intern page to learn more about how to get hands-on experience in the Environmental Studies field.

ES Student Advisory Committee

The ES Department has a committee of students that provide strategic support to ES faculty and staff, from helping evaluate potential faculty, to brainstorming ideas for continued improvement of the department.

ES Student Research Assistants

During the summer, several ES faculty members supervise student research positions. To learn more about the work these students have been doing, go to the faculty research page.

Environmental Advisory Group (EAG)

Environmental Advisory Group (EAG) Several Environmental Studies students also serve on the Environmental Advisory Group, which is responsible for advising the president on Environmental concerns and initiatives. To learn more about campus greening activities visit the Green Colby site .

ES Student Prize Winners

Hollis Prize

This prize is awarded to a senior or seniors selected by the department faculty who have made significant contributions to the Environmental Studies Department. Past recipients include:

2021 Mykela Z. Patton and Laura E. Sokoloski
2020 Lilli Y. Garza
2019 Amy M. Andreini and Zoe C. Dickerson
2018 Wesley Zebrowski
2017 Teddy Simpson
2016 Samantha Lovell
2015 Noma Moyo
2014 Grace Reville and Erin Love
2013 Lydia Ball
2012 Brianna Lind
2011 Michelle Russell and Rachel Baron
2010 Megan Browning and Emma Gildesgame
2009 Becky Lipson
2008 Anna Barnwell and Emmie Theberge
2007 Elisa Chinaria and Ryan Weaver
2006 Sarah Kelly and Hilary Langer
2005 Lauren Wolpin and Allison Stewart
2004 Steven Sarno

Environmental Studies Prize

This prize is awarded the senior with the highest grade point average in the major.
Past recipients include:

2021 Tynan G. Hewes, Ingrid N. Sant and Taryn R. Waite
2020 Charles K. Cobb, Lena E. Martin and Camille H. Ross
2019 Josiah M. Johnson, Madison K. Wendell and Yue Yu
2018 Alyssa T. Kullberg and Jeremy P. Ravenelle
2017 Eliza Baker Wacks and Rebecca Chmiel
2016 Laurel Whitney and Jacob Wall
2015 Caleb Harris and Leah Powley
2014 Grey Benjamin and Theresa Petzoldt
2013 Corey Reichler and Ginny Keesler
2012 Daniel Homeier and Elizabeth Schneider
2011 Li Yu Chan and Hannah Lafleur
2010 Samuel Brakeley and Amanda Lindsay
2009 Patrick Roche
2008 Courtney Larson
2007 Katie Renwick and Kelly Bakulski
2006 Jenna Morrison and Sarah Hoskinson
2005 Brendan Carroll
2004 Dana Wheeler
2003 Sarah Bandow
2002 Jennifer Dakin

Off Campus ES Student Award Winners

Thomas J. Watson Fellow

The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship offers college graduates of “unusual promise” a year of independent, purposeful exploration and travel — in international settings new to them — to enhance their capacity for resourcefulness, imagination, openness, and leadership and to foster their humane and effective participation in the world community.

Parwana Mohammad ’16
Yiyuan Qin ’12

Morris K. Udall Scholarships

The Udall Foundation is a national program that seeks future leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics.

Blair Braverman ’10
J. Sarah Sorenson ’10
Stephen Erario ’10
Tim Lancaster ’05, Biology major with a concentration in environmental science
Heather Davidson ’99, Fulfilled an independent major that included environmental studies

Fulbright Fellowship

The Fulbright Program enables a student to live and study/conduct research in a foreign country for one academic year. Teaching (English) opportunities are available in Belgium/Luxembourg, Chile, France, Germany, Hungary, Korea, Romania, Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey.

Alyssa T. Kullberg ’18
Elizabeth Schneider ’12

Henry David Thoreau Scholars

The Henry David Thoreau Foundation attracts and sustains outstanding young leaders in diverse disciplines who will safeguard the environmental welfare of future generations. Candidates for the Henry David Thoreau Scholarship must be residents of Massachusetts. The candidates must also be enrolled in and graduate from a Massachusetts high school in the year they apply for a scholarship and begin college studies.

Rachel Freierman ’09
Jenna Morrison ’06
Lauren Bliss ’03
Sarah Zerbonne ’03

Davis Peace Prize

Projects for Peace was created in 2007 through the generosity of Kathryn W. Davis, a lifelong internationalist and philanthropist who died in 2013 at 106 years of age. She is the mother of Shelby M.C. Davis who funds the Davis United World College Scholars Program currently involving 91 American colleges and universities. Mrs. Davis’ legacy will live on through the continuation of Projects for Peace in order to spark initiatives for building prospects for peace in the world.

Grace Yu ’19 and Reggie Huang ’19
Kumbu Seddu ’16, minor in Environmental Studies
Tamar Hassen ’11

Campus Environmental Presence

Environmental Coalition The EC seeks to educate the Colby and Waterville communities about recycling, water quality, maple sugaring, forest management, and other environmental issues.
COFGA (Colby Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association)
COFGA aims to provide quality, organic produce to Colby’s dining halls, instill in our members the knowledge necessary to grow their own food, and inform the Colby community about issues surrounding food production.
Colby Outing Club The COC is a source of information, inspiration, and equipment for a wide range of outdoor activities. The COC owns a cabin, runs weekend trips throughout Maine (including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking trips).
Colby Mountaineering Club The Colby Mountaineering Club is composed of students dedicated to rock, ice, and alpine climbing. They lead outdoor rock and ice climbing trips as well as provide free leader training.
Colby Woodsmen Team The Woodsmen’s Team is a student athletic club that practices old-time logging skills such as standing-block chop, log rolling, sawing, pole climbing; and newer events such as axe throw and chainsaw.
COOT Colby Outdoor Orientation Trip is coordinated by the COOT committee for incoming students