NRES LEAD Scholars Program

Alexa Cango Ruiz

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023-24

Major: Environmental Management and Protection

Minors: Biology and Indigenous Studies in Natural Resources and the Environment

I took on different projects throughout the year as I explored my interests in watershed protection, agricultural management and marine resources. This program has been instrumental in improving my communication skills and willingness to take initiative when working towards a project I am passionate about.

Amelia DeEulio

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023-24

Major: Environmental Management and Protection

Minors: Sustainable Environments, Land Rehabilitation and Restoration Ecology, and Indigenous Studies in Natural Resources

I joined LEAD Scholars in my second year at Cal Poly. So far, I’ve been working with SLO Canopy Crew, a student group connected to the Cal Poly Plant Conservatory focused on creating green spaces around campus and in the community. In addition, we host plant sales, tree planting events, seeding/transplanting workshops and more. I’ve also been working toward becoming a LEED Green Associate. This program has given me incredible networking opportunities and helped me work on my communication and time management skills.

Bahar Vasli

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023, 2023-24

Major: Environmental Earth and Soil Science

With the LEAD Scholar Program's support, I’ve concentrated my efforts on waste reduction at Cal Poly’s dining hall, Vista Grande. By analyzing waste production and conducting student surveys, I tested compostable containers with San Luis Obispo’s anaerobic digester, aiding the city’s fuel generation. This shift from aluminum to compostable to-go containers has significantly advanced Cal Poly’s zero waste and sustainability goals. My current objective is to address the knowledge gap in proper waste sorting and waste reduction by working with local elementary schools to educate students — our future leaders and environmental stewards.

Ezekiel Pearl

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023, 2023-24

Major: Environmental Management and Protection

Minor: Land Rehabilitation and Restoration Ecology

Through LEAD I am working with the Morro Bay Estuary Program to collect data on the recreational usage of the Morro Bay Estuary, along with water quality samples. I am working on this with my cohort member Sean Bernard and have experienced significant professional development through these endeavors.

Julian Durante

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023-24

Major: Environmental Management and Protection

Minor: Land Rehabilitation and Restoration Ecology

My project, The SLO Canopy Crew, is a student group that focuses on all aspects of green space establishment. Housed within the Cal Poly Plant Conservatory, Canopy Crew collects seeds, grows, plants and maintains trees in our campus landscape. We host educational seminars on the importance of urban trees, with a focus on hardy species that will withstand California’s changing climate.

Student leadership roles include landscape manager, inventory manager, social media lead, events lead and more. Email jpdurant@calpoly.edu if you’d like to get involved.

Kaitlin Davey

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023, 2023-24

Major: Environmental Earth and Soil Science

I joined the LEAD scholars my freshman year of college and have been working with a local nonprofit, Creek Lands Conservation, to create sixth grade environmental curriculum for local wetlands. I’ve been researching wetland education and cultivating complete lesson plans for a summer field trip in the Los Osos Creek Wetland Preserve and Morro Bay.

Kelsie Burruss

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023-24

Major: Environmental Management and Protection

Minor: Biology

Upon joining the program, I partnered with Maddie Mouw to help her with mapping water fountains on campus. Our goal is to create an interactive map students can use to more easily locate water refill stations on campus and in turn reduce overall plastic consumption at Cal Poly. Being involved with LEAD, helped me develop professional skills as well. I have grown my network immensely through working on this project and talking with other scholars about their work.  Assistant Professors Yamina Pressler and Seeta Sistla have also greatly helped me with time management skills as well as resume and interview tips. This summer, I was able to get an internship in the biology department at Caltrans. The skills I learned in this program helped me reach this accomplishment.

Lotte de Jager

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023-24

Major: Forest and Fire Sciences

I joined LEAD my first year at Cal Poly. My current project is to create a seed library for Cal Poly students. My goal is to educate students on native plants and seed saving. This program has improved my communication skills and facilitated my professional growth.

Luke Mendoza

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023-24

Major: Environmental Management and Protection

Minors: Fruit Science and Plant Protection

I am working on analyzing waste efficiency and effective waste management on Cal Poly’s campus, pulling inputs from various perspectives, including students, faculty, and waste management experts in the San Luis Obispo community. The LEAD Scholars program has truly helped me network with professionals and strengthen my professional development and relationship skills. Thanks to the support of LEAD, I currently serve as the education lead for Skip The Grid, a construction management project at Cal Poly that travels to the Navajo Nation to electrify homes and install solar panels.

Madeline Mouw

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023-24

Major: Environmental Earth and Soil Science

Concentration: Geology

I transferred to Cal Poly from a small community college in Lake Tahoe in fall 2023. My first week on campus the weather was warm, and being new to Cal Poly I thought about how great it would be if there was a directory showing where all the water fountains were on campus. Low and behold, I was able to turn this idea into a project through the LEAD scholars program. The goal of this project is that a map will reduce the need for purchase of single use plastic bottles. It also has been fulfilling to apply what I have learned in GIS classes to a real life application.

Sean Bernard

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023-24

Major: Environmental Management and Protection

Minor: Land Rehabilitation and Restoration Ecology

I will be starting my second year in the LEAD scholar program where I will be continuing my work with the Morro Bay National Estuary program. Zeke Pearl and I do population surveys at various sites around the Morro Bay estuary to estimate recreational use and potential impacts to the sites. The LEAD program has allowed me to connect with other students in our department and has been an incredible experience.

Sophia Slucky

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2023-24

Major: Environmental Earth and Soil Science

I joined the LEAD scholar program during my first year and have dedicated my project to mitigating receipt waste associated with campus dining. For professional development, I have contacted geology and NRES department professors to further my scientific research experience in the environmental sciences.

Melissa Evans

Years in LEAD Scholar Program: 2022, 2023-24

Major: Environmental Management and Protection

Minors: Biology, Packaging, and Sustainable Environments

I joined the first LEAD Scholar cohort during my third year of study in 2023. I have worked to enhance green spaces on campus and to increase the Sustainability Catalog course listing for the Orfalea College of Business. For professional development I also attended a regenerative farming and bamboo architecture program at a learning institution in Ecuador.