The NC State Stewards, a group of student leaders dedicated to inspiring sustainability-based change on campus, is closing its freshmen and transfer new Stewards applications Nov. 4 as it continues to pursue both developing and recurring sustainability projects.

Haley Hall, a fourth-year in environmental science and student coordinator for the NC State Stewards, described the program and its benefits to campus and the stewards themselves.

“Our goals are to educate the campus and inspire sustainable change … but we also want our members that are part of the program to be getting as much out as they are putting in,” Hall said. “We try to give an individualized approach for helping the stewards progress themselves in how they see their abilities connecting them to the right resources on campus, providing the opportunity for them to network with the private sector or sectors outside of the university.”

Hall said each year, the Stewards divide into topic areas to complete specific projects that are partly funded by the Sustainability Office. This year’s topic areas include energy, education and outreach, waste reduction, and environmental justice and equity.

“The program takes a different approach each year depending on its members,” Hall said. “It is very open-ended and provides the tools for whoever our cohort is to accomplish what they want to accomplish. As members of the student body, they have insight as to what needs to be said or done and what could connect students to sustainability on campus.”

David Walser, a fourth-year studying biological engineering, has been a steward for the past four years and has been involved in organic waste reduction, promoting composting in campus dormitories and residence halls.

“I did a few composting demonstration workshops at Wolf Village and the honors quad,” Walser said. “Being a part of Stewards, we helped them with the more educational side of it … A lot of [Living and Learning Villages] wanted to talk about composting in these residence halls, but they didn’t really know exactly what to talk about.”

Now, after working closely with the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office, Walser said an on-site composting location for campus is soon to be revealed.

“Before this year, NC State was tracking its compost 50 miles away,” Walser said. “As of last year, we realized that’s maybe not the best sustainable type of action … As stewards, we signed on saying that we would help support that initiative as representatives of our peers here on campus in terms of sustainability.”

Anthony Medeiros, a second-year studying business administration, became a steward last spring, and as a part of the energy group has helped with projects like the annual Tri-Towers Energy and Water Challenge. He said that sustainability has many definitions, which is why diversity in applicants is so important.

“Any major, any focus, any ideas that you want to pursue within sustainability are welcome,” Hall said. “We really encourage diversity within our applicants, because we want to get an interesting perspective on how we can increase sustainability on campus.”

In the future, Medeiros said the Stewards are developing eARTh Showcase, an event featuring student art focused on sustainability, as well as a Sustainability Fair to be held during Wolfpack Welcome Week. Hall said a seminar series called Sustainability is for Everyone, which will be run by the outreach team, is in the works as well.

“We’re looking for people that are excited and passionate about sustainability who want to better themselves and the community,” Hall said. “We are really encouraged by the projects ahead.”

Both Mederios and Walser said being a Steward has been rewarding through the impact it has on campus, and the personal and professional development aspects as well.

“You have the opportunity to make a big impact on campus,” Walser said. “Unlike a lot of other organizations, you have the Sustainability Office, and they have a line to everyone else, like administration on campus. Because of that, you have a good opportunity to influence the vision, and rather than working with people across the table, you’re working side-by-side with them.”

To learn about the NC State Stewards and applying, students can visit their website or email ncstatestewards@ncsu.edu.