Last Friday, the KSC Eco-Reps Club celebrated Earth Day by having an Earth Day Celebration that was open to the whole community.
As ambassadors of sustainability, the club is focused and centered around efforts to have college students care for the environment and live a sustainable lifestyle. The club highlights pressing environmental issues, but the ultimate goal is to inspire students to adopt more eco-friendly habits in their daily lives.
Senior and Eco-Reps President Amanda Rotigliano described Eco-Reps as, “a club on campus that focuses on making sustainability easier for students and showcasing how easy it is to be a college student that cares for the environment.”
Rotigliano said that she joined during her first year at Keene State.
“I joined because taking care of the environment and practicing sustainability is important to me. I didn’t want to add another major or minor in environmental studies, so Eco-Reps was the perfect place for me to share my love of the environment,” said Rotigliano.
Similarly, Vice President Emma Heimer reflected on her decision to join in her sophomore year.
“I joined this club as a way to connect more with nature and understand how to be sustainable to the best of my ability,” said Heimer. “It was also such an easy way to find a community where I felt accepted and understood with people that I have truly grown to adore.”
Rotigliano elaborated on what the Earth Day Celebration entailed and why it was held.
“The Earth Day Celebration is a way to share and celebrate the Earth for students on campus,” Rotigliano said. “We bring together a lot of organizations that practice sustainability and environmental action onto campus so that students can learn more about local environmental and sustainability efforts while also taking the time to learn and understand the importance of Earth Day. It is also a way to celebrate the start of spring and the blooming of campus, and it’s a fun outdoor event to get students out and appreciating the Earth.”
Heimer shared her personal connection with Earth Day and why she feels it is important to recognize.
“Earth Day means a lot to me. As a kid, I was always so thrilled when Earth Day came around because I loved being able to go outside and pick up trash and learn about the planet,” she said. “I also feel it is important because it reminds people of why our planet is important, and it builds a community that would be lost without the passion.”
Rotigliano echoed this sentiment. “Earth Day means a lot for me,” she said. “I have always loved the Earth as I grew up going to many national parks, so having a day to celebrate the Earth and everything the Earth gives to us is a wonderful chance to showcase not only our amazing planet, but how we should also work to protect it for future generations. Earth Day is one of my favorite days to celebrate by being outside, enjoying nature and appreciating the natural world around me.”
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