STUDENT AWARDS

hernandez completed the climate change track of the environmental studies major and also completed a major in politics. She was recognized with this award not only for her outstanding record of success in her courses, but also her excellent work in the capstone course. In her capstone project, Hernandez documented an oral history of resistance to the Mountain Valley Pipeline project in Appalachia through interviews with stakeholders, ranging from the environmental lawyers waging the legal battle to the activists on the front lines of injustice and resistance. Hernandez’s capstone project was an outstanding culmination of her academic work, and is a great example of what we hope our students can achieve in our program.

hollen Was recognized for her efforts in support of sustainability on campus and in the local community throughout her four years at W&L. Her nomination for this award highlighted her leadership in sustainability initiatives in athletics, as well as the time she devoted to supporting efforts at Boxerwood Gardens. She clearly led by example with these efforts and had a significant impact on the university and Rockbridge communities. This award symbolizes our appreciation for Hollen’s dedication to improving environmental sustainability on campus and in our community.

this aWard is given in recognition of significant accomplishment in the area of applied environmental conservation with an emphasis on river conservation and/or the American West. Mabaka was selected for this award based on the two summers that he invested in research with the Henry’s Fork Foundation (HFF). His first year with HFF in 2020 was limited to remote work due to pandemic-related restrictions; however, he impressed the scientists at HFF so much that they invited him back to complete more work on the project in person the following year. The HFF and their work were near and dear to Al Knight’s heart — we are certain he would be delighted with Mabaka’s contributions to their research and conservation efforts.

throughout his four years at W&L, Dunn was a leader in our program in the area of sustainable commerce and paved the way for our major elective track in this field of study. Alongside his collaborator Justin Littlejohn, Dunn forged new ground in the senior capstone class with a social entrepreneurship business plan to provide mitigation solutions for urban heat islands. Through his dedicated efforts in this field, he blazed a trail for other students to follow in future years.