Seven DePauw students traveled to Colorado in September to visit the Walking Mountains Science Center and the University of Colorado Boulder.
The students also met with Pam Lorman ’68 and Ben Peternell, who created the Pamela Lorman and Ben Peternell Endowed Environmental Opportunity Fund to support experiential learning opportunities related to environmental and/or sustainability studies.
Come along with the students, faculty and staff on their trip with a photo essay. Each photo has been chosen and captioned by a member of the group.
Greta Raser ’21
Psychology
“Our first full day in Colorado was spent with Ben and Pam Peternell at the Walking Mountains Science Center, an environmental learning center they steward. This day was spent touring the grounds, learning about the center’s mission, going on a guided hike and discussing community programs the staff at Walking Mountains organize and support. The zero-waste tent in this photograph has three holes with the labels ‘Recycling,’ ‘Compost’ and ‘Waste.’ The group is trying to decide which waste products go into each category. The Walking Mountains Zero Waste program partners with community-event producers to provide planning support and friendly staff during events to ensure sustainability success. This initiative was so impactful that the Zero Waste group at DePauw has inspiration for a new project in the future!”
Collin Davidson ’21
Environmental Geoscience and Environmental Biology
“On our first night in Colorado, we stopped at the Sherpa House Restaurant and Culture Center in Golden for our first dinner of the trip. In a trip packed full of incredible experiences, our meals were a time to reflect, unwind and share. These were the times where our friendships developed and our community grew. I’ll never forget the people we met and the laughs we shared along the way. Thank you for bringing us all together!”
Cecilia Slane ’20
History
“We stopped on the side of the road as we headed up the mountain to have dinner with Ben and Pam Peternell. The view was breathtaking, so we decided to have a mini-photoshoot. Because I had never been to the Rocky Mountains, I was elated to be able to look down on the mountains and see the geologic formations I learned about in class. I started laughing because I was so in awe of the beautiful scenery. After this trip, I decided to apply to graduate school at the University of Colorado Boulder, which we also visited.”
Amber Hecko
Assistant Director, Environmental Fellows Program
“We were honored to accept an invitation from Pam ’68 and Ben Peternell to join them for dinner at their home in Colorado. It was wonderful to spend time with the Peternells, to get to know them better and learn about their personal interests in the environment and the important work they’re doing in the local community. I was moved by the heartfelt gratitude the students shared with Pam and Ben, as they discussed their hopes for the future, and the impact the Peternell Scholarship has made on their academic journeys. The students have been able to engage in research and internships, participate in semester study-abroad programs and complete their degrees at DePauw, in part thanks to the financial support of Pam and Ben Peternell. I’m so proud of our students and the important work in which they are engaging and so thankful for the generosity of the Peternells!”
Jen Everett
Associate Professor and Co-Director, Environmental Fellows Program
“As a former Coloradan, I was overjoyed to have the chance to return to the High Country with the Peternell Scholars. On our visit to the Walking Mountains Science Center, we were blown away by the incredible gift of time, attention, insight and experiential wisdom the staff shared with our students. We had time to stretch our wings and our legs, to soak in the beauty of the mountains and relish the crisp fresh air, to get to know one another, to converse about their individual futures and our shared planetary future. Our evening with the Peternells was an especially meaningful exchange of gratitude and inspiration.”
I’m so proud of our students, who are committed to living purpose-driven lives, who relentlessly challenge themselves ethically as well as intellectually and who take no opportunity for personal growth for granted.
“And I’m so grateful to Ben and Pam – not only on behalf of the Peternell Scholars – but for investing in the professional growth of the staff here at DePauw as well as at Walking Mountains. Amber and Malorie do so much every day to support our environmental and sustainability student leaders – from academic advising to career development to moral support and logistical management and more. To share the activities I love so much, in a landscape so formative for me, with such caring, committed, fun-loving colleagues/friends and the students we educate together was easily one of the greatest highlights of my time as one of the co-directors of the Environmental Fellows Program.”
Donna Riner ’20
Environmental Biology
“Hiking through the woods near the Walking Mountains Science Center, we spotted dark grooves carved into the white bark of a Quaking Aspen tree: a clear sign that a bear has walked this trail. These grooves look a lot different than those carved by hikers with knives along other trails… the bear clearly had different intentions. These carvings made me reflect on the mark we leave on the world, what kinds of intentions do we carry forward, what impact will we make? As a Peternell Scholar I feel charged with the responsibility to make a positive impact on the world. Following graduation, I will do research in Indianapolis on soil heavy metals and air pollution with the goal of decreasing the prevalence of environmental injustices such as childhood lead poisoning and food insecurity through creating safe urban gardens. I hope someday to return to Colorado and join the Walking Mountains Science Center as a graduate fellow through their environmental education masters program.”
Xiaoli Magary ’20
Environmental Geoscience
“We climbed up a flatiron in Chautauqua Park the day before visiting the University of Colorado Boulder. The air was thin, the hike was steep, and we all shared many laughs along the way. We bonded over our love for nature and I was amazed seeing these geologic structures up close. We encouraged each other to push our limits and, after reaching the top, we realized how far we can make it when we work together.”
Laura Spasske ’21
Environmental Geoscience
“During our trip, we had the opportunity to visit the GrowHaus, an urban farm in Denver, Colorado. At this farm, we all participated in a spur-of-the-moment Zumba class together before touring the facility. It was a short and fun experience, but really allowed me to see how even the small services the GrowHaus offers, like Zumba, can have an impact on a community. Plus, it allowed me to feel closer to the rest of the group as we all laughed and pushed ourselves through the workout together.”
Malorie Garbe
Director, Office of Sustainability
“One of our last stops on the trip was to the GrowHaus in Denver’s Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. This community-based nonprofit includes an indoor farm, marketplace and education center. The farm produces everything from mushrooms to fish (and everything in between!), and the community involvement was evident from our very first moment on-site. We quickly jumped in to participate in a weekly Zumba class and watched as volunteers prepared a community meal using produce from the farm. The experience helped us all contemplate our personal connections to food and community, and we spent the rest of the day brainstorming ways to better engage the Greencastle community in our own campus farm project at DePauw.”
Angie Mendez ’20
Biology and Global Health
“This quote really embodied the whole experience for me. We talked with professionals, faculty and graduate students about the value of entry level and/or seasonal jobs as a way to gain experience that is valuable for graduate school. This trip validated the path I am on as being unique and valuable, even if it is nontraditional. I plan to teach through Teach for America because it will allow me to see the key social issues our cities face prior to going into graduate school. I am hoping this experience will help me find a program that allows me to serve my community in the best way possible.”
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