Environmental Studies Program - Department of Environmental

Message from the
ES Program Chair
Carla D’Antonio, Ph.D
"Education is the most powerful weapon
which you can use to change the world."
-Nelson Mandela
Welcome graduates, family members
and friends. It is a pleasure to celebrate
with you the accomplishments of this
amazing group of students and to share in the joy of a job well
done. Today’s graduates join a distinguished cadre of UCSB
Environmental Studies alumni…now almost 6000 of
you…each with your own story and path. As environmental
studies majors you are bound together by your shared concern
for the health of our planet, by your commitment to bettering
the world we live in, to preserving its beauty and resources for
future generations, to ensuring equal access by all to a healthy
environment, and to finding creative solutions to the many,
many challenges that face us.
Commencement means beginning. While leaving behind the
world you have known for the past 4 or 5 years, each of you
are joining a larger family…the UCSB-Gaucho-ES family. This
family is here to help support you and guide you as you search
for a career path, pursue your dreams, try new things and
search for your own way to helping to ensure sustainable
living on this fragile planet.
While we are proud of you, and proud to have helped you find
your own wings, we are also grateful to you for all that you
have done for us. So on behalf of the faculty, lecturers and staff
of environmental studies, I want to thank you for your fresh
energy, your creativity, your perseverance and your
optimism. It is these things that help to keep us inspired and
keep us in turn optimistic that we as a global society have a
bright future.
Keep in touch through our newsletter, our friends and alumni
list serves and in whatever way you can …share with us the
path that you create for yourself.
Go forth and seize the day! Environmental Studies Program
Commencement and Awards Reception
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Music Bowl
University of California
Santa Barbara
2015 Environmental Studies Graduates
PROGRAM
Welcome
ES Prof. Carla D’Antonio
Chair, Environmental Studies Program
Community Service Award
Presented by ES Prof. Carla D’Antonio
2015 Student Awards Presentation
Outstanding Seniors
Presented by Tim Olson, ES Class of '88
Outstanding Senior Thesis Award
Presented by ES Assoc. Prof. Simone Pulver
Outstanding Service
Presented by ES Prof. Josh Schimel
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Presented by ES Assoc. Prof. Peter Alagona
and ES Sr. Continuing Lecturer Emeritus Paul Wack
Tom Rogers & Marc McGinnes Scholarships
Presented by ES Prof. Carla D'Antonio
ES Class of 2015 Remarks
Eric Zimmerman
Academic Coordinator, Environmental Studies
Reception
Jazmine N. Saucedo
Rachel D. Scarlett
Dominic R. Schlies
Leah J. Schulman
Katelin D. Seeto
Patrick D. Seymour
Kuan-Yi C. Shao
Zeleka A. Shawel
Max, A. Siegel
Thomas P. Sims II
Marie H. Skari
Shelby A. Skougard
David, S. Smithers
Carmen D. Solis
Derek Stanley-Howarth
Melissa S. Steritz
George K. Stoddard
Jiahong Sun
Taylor K. Sun
Nathan S. Swaigen
Melissa M. Taguchi
Disnee Tamang
Kylie S. Taylor
Passion M. Taylor
Jean-Luc F. Thibodeau
Evan G. Thomas
Melissa C. Tinoco
Matthew M. Togni
Joseph K. Tomoyasu
Lynn M. Ton- That
Anmol S. Toor
Victoria E. Tsolis
Morgan R. Tusa
Quashaun M. Vallery
Andera A. Valletta
Kristin D. Van Der Kar
Julia A. Varboncoeur
Gonzalo Villalobo
Anacani Villasenor-Kaimuloa
Hieu, V. Vo
Linda T. Vo
David C. Walker
Kelsey J. Walker
Amelia R. Walmsley
Erin J. Watt
Connor E. Way
Logan M. Wiebusch
Erika L. Wilvang
Aaron D. Windmiller
Alexander M. Wisneski
Perri M. Wolfe
Vivian Woo
Emilie W. Wood
Emerson Wu
Ting-Wei Yang
Community Service Award
2015 Environmental Studies Graduates
Karla E. Martinez
Kelly S. Mcgrath
Garrett L. Mcgurk
Kelly E. Mckay
John J. Mcmahon III
Forest A. Mcmillin
Indiana Mead
Bret M. Meier
Lauren P. Menzer
Kurtis B. Merget
Elizabeth Milbert
Matthew J. Mills
Rebecca L. Moss
Max G. Muehlhauser
Azaan S. Nagra
Victoria N. Nakagawa
Roman O. Navarro
Natalia D. Nelson
Joshua M. Nemiroff
Nicole W. J. Ng
Tiffany H. Ngo
Brian L. Nguyen
Lanvy Nguyen
Monique L. O'Conner
Noelle A. Ocen-Odoge
Emma M. Olin
Claryann K. Olofsson-Loo
Asami Osato
Erin V. Paddock
Meli A. Padilla
Kian C. Pakdel
Alison B. Palmer
Alejandro N. Paramo
Daniel M. J. Park
Amanda M. Parker
Michael B. Pawell
Marriela Krisha E. Penollar
Evan Perlman
Paulina P. Pevzner
Michelle L. Phillips
Katelyn M. Pilcher
Brett F. Ploussard
Megan E. Poblete
Mladen Popovic
Debby V. Portillo
Maxwell J. Potter
Maria D. Prado Rosales
Rafael B. Prata
Jonathan D. Prickett
Linda T. N. Quang
Arriana I. Rabago
Halley W. Rainer
Luis Ramirez
Alexis J. Ramos
Anna K. Ramos
Bryce A. Rausa
Amber K. Reedy
Nicholas T. Reese
Molly L. Reichman
Catherine F. Reilly
Tayler A. Reinman
Nicole M. Rinaldi El-Abd
Marisol Rios
Danielle E. Romanowski
Elizabeth M. Rosbottom
Selena T. F. Ross
Daniel D. Rowell
Emilia R. Rubin
Nathan M. Ruchman
Stephanie Ruiz
Karim A. Saleh Sr
Stephanie Sanchez
Wilderness Youth Project (WYP)
Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) is a local non-­‐profit with a mission to foster confidence, health, and a life-­‐long love of learning through active outdoor experiences and mentoring. In the last fifteen years they have connected hundreds of youth each year with nature through after-­‐school, summer, and expedition programs. WYP values equity, working to include students from diverse backgrounds in terms of ethnicity, ability and socioeconomic status. Studies show outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, enhances imaginations and attention spans, decreases aggression, and b oosts classroom performance. In addition, children who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become b etter stewards of the environment. These quantifiable benefits are all good and well, but at the root of the conversation is one singular concept: we know in our hearts that nature is the natural habitat for children. Outstanding Alumnus
Award
Tamara “T.J.”
DiCaprio, Class of '81
This year’s alumna of the year is TJ or Tamara DiCaprio. TJ graduated with a double major in ES and Geography. She herself notes that she was not a particularly stellar student and she wandered for a bit after graduation before finding her path. TJ found that path when she followed her passion for technology, which led her to her job with Microsoft where she invented her own job as Director of Environmental Sustainability. She is the Chief Architect of Microsoft’s voluntary internal corporate carbon tax that has become a model in the business world for more sustainable resource policies. The program is geographically the largest carbon tax in existence. It charges business units within the company for emissions from energy consumed from facilities and business air travel, and then reinvests the proceeds in energy efficiency, clean energy, and carbon offset community projects. It has encouraged wise energy use within the company leading Microsoft to reduce their GH gas emissions by more than 7 million mt CO2e, save more than $10 million per year, and reach more than 3 million people in emerging nations to support healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, and wildlife protection. As a result of her work with Microsoft, recently TJ was awarded the C.K. Prahalad award for Leadership in global sustainability initiatives and in 2013 Congress recognized TJ for receiving the U.S. EPA Individual Leadership award. In addition, Triple Pundit named TJ in the top 35 Women Leaders in Sustainability. R ecently TJ returned from consulting the White House and speaking as a panelist at the W hite House Women and the Environment Summit in Washington DC. TJ often returns to UCSB as a guest lecturer in classes. She has become a role model for students with her humble, kind and thoughtful lectures… bringing them a clear message to “follow their passions” and to not be afraid to put forward big ideas. They describe her as ‘uplifting’ ‘inspirational’ and motivational. 2015 Environmental Studies Graduates
Ryan P. Fass
Rodney J. Feddema
Aida A. F. Cabrera
Luke P. Fetten
Kassandra L. Fillmore
Robert J. Fitzsimmons
Sean P. Flood
Weston A. Freels
Katelyn M. Freeze
Allyson J. Gaarder
Margaret M. Gallagher
Denise J. Garcia
Evan R. Garcia
Stephanie L. Garcia
Shelby J. Geitner
Gad L. Girling
Madisen L. Gittlin
Juan C. Gomez
Nareg R. Gourdikian
Alexandra M. Grant
Briana L. Gray
Mauro S. Guevara
Kali L. Gutierrez
Kathleen M. Guzman
Bjorn E. Hansen
Lisa Haroutunian
Patrick C. Hawkey
Taylor A. Hernvall
Kristen Herrera
Marley D. Herrick
Kalani C. Hicks
Ryan J. Hitzler
William C. Holland
Charlie T. Hua
Stephen T. Hunter
Thomas N. Ichinose
Jonathan M. Imson
Malcolm C. Jack
Timothy M. Jacobs
Chul S. Jang
Alexander J. Jauregui
Nicholle J. Jigarjian
Danielle A. Johnson
Erin K. Johnson
Karlon H. Johnson Jr.
Perry W. Jue
Cora L. Kammeyer
Noam Karoly
Emma M. Keller
Reida Khan
Bryan J. Kim
Jun D. Kim
Katherine E. Krattenmaker
Benson Kuo
Dylan K. Laicher-Edwards
Emily H. Lam
Leslie M. Lauterbach
Keith C. Leonard
Riley H. Leonard
Samantha C. Lepore
Benjamin A. Lerner
Maria E. Lira
Connor R. London
Nicholas L. Lorenzen
Kevin H. Lu
Hannah L. Luedtke
Maile N. Luther
Carrie Ly
Shannon T. Malone
Kaitlin E. Mamulski
Heather M. Martin
Frankie F. Martinez
2015 Student Awards
Outstanding Academic Achievement
Awarded to ES and Hydrologic Science seniors who have
completed their major and college requirements with an
outstanding overall GPA of 3.5 or higher.
*Kimberly C. Asbury Lily M. Berman Marie A. Biaggi Brittany M. Biesterfeld Luke R. Bodendorfer Sarah C. Bourke Rebecca S. Bracken Samuel G. Breyfogle Lisandra J. Cachux Lucatero Edwin S. Cheung Kevin, N. Dam Giovanna M. Davila *Amelia J. Duvall Veronica H. Emrich Ryan I. Fagenson Ryan P. Fass *Robert J. Fitzsimmons Allyson J. Gaarder *Margaret M. Gallagher *Shelby J. Geitner Timothy M. Jacobs Danielle A. Johnson Cora L. Kammeyer Noam Karoly Reida Khan Riley H. Leonard Benjamin A. Lerner Maile N . Luther Heather M. Martin *Lauren P . Menzer Rebecca L. Moss Tiffany H. Ngo Monique L. O'Conner Erin V. Paddock Kian C. Pakdel Marriela Krisha E. Penollar Evan Perlman Paulina P. Pevzner Katelyn M. Pilcher Brett F. Ploussard Mladen Popovic Maria D. Prado Rosales Amber K. Reedy Catherine F. Reilly Selena T. F. Ross Jazmine N. Saucedo Rachel D. Scarlett Marie H. Skari Derek A. Stanley-­‐Howarth Melissa S. Steritz Melissa M. Taguchi Jean-­‐Luc F. Thibodeau *Evan G. Thomas Victoria E. Tsolis Morgan R. Tusa Kristin D. Van Der Kar Julia A. Varboncoeur Erin J. Watt Emilie Weber Wood * indicates Distinction in the Major Candidates
Additional 2015 Accolades
Barker Scholarship
Awarded to help support unpaid environmental internships
of those students who demonstrate exceptional motivation
Claire M. Jacobs
Matthew Charles Decker Memorial Scholarship
Provided to enable student’s participation in wilderness field study
in the area of wildlife management or environmental conservation
Emma L. Glass
2015 Phi Beta Kappa Initiates
Recognizes and encourages commitment to
excellence in the liberal arts and sciences
Allyson J. Gaarder
Cora L. Kammeyer
Rebecca L. Moss
Megan J. O’Beirne
Maria D. Prado Rosales
The ES Program is most grateful to the following
for their Award and Scholarship support:
Tim Olson, ES Class of '88
Greg Mohr, ES Class of '76, and Wendy Wittl
The Coeta and Donald R. Barker Foundation
The Decker Family & Friends
Marc McGinnes and Seyburn Zorthian
Alumni and Community Supporters
And thanks to Trader Joe's on Calle Real for their generous
donation of flowers and supplies for this year's reception.
2015 Environmental Studies Graduates
Raam S. Akiba-Hajim
Hailey N. Allison
Juan Alonzo Jr.
Melody A. Alvarez
Roberto D. Anguiano Jr.
Kristin K. Arakawa
Miguel A. Arteaga
Kimberly C. Asbury
Edward L. Atkins
Linsey M. Avila
Han B. Bae
Sanmit M. Bapaye
Lily M. Berman
Marie A. Biaggi
Brittany M. Biesterfeld
David G. Billesbach
Marissa Bills
Thomas B. Block
Evan B. Bobardt
Luke R. Bodendorfer
Luis J. Bondoc
Sarah C. Bourke
Tanner P. Boyle
Rebecca S. Bracken
Marissa C. Bragstad
Samuel G. Breyfogle
Daniel A. Britt
George P. Brueggeman
Aaron D. Bucka
Raul Cabral
Lisandra J. Cachux
Lucatero
John M. Calforda
Sean P. Carey
Brandon J. Chaidez
Matthew Chan
2015 Student Awards
Outstanding Senior Awards
Nicolette T. Chan
Jennifer Chang
Samuel S. Chang
Karen Chavez
Abraham Cheng
Ava S. Cheng
Edwin S. Cheung
Keith P. Cheung
Keith P. Cheung
Apoorva A. Chiplunkar
Taylor N. Ciulei
Kalena W. Clausius-Davis
Lindsey Co
Emilie E. Colwell
Spencer L. Cook
Gardner M. Cord
Kevin N. Dam
Giovanna M. Davila
Matthew B. Day
Edgar De La Torre
Alexa, R. Diaz
James N. Diaz
Lindley A. Dobbrow
Andrew M. Donnelly
Trenton J. Doyle
Amelia J. Duvall
Taylor K. Earwood
Sarah M. Ebe
Dillon E. Elsbury
Veronica H. Emrich
Francisco J. Escobedo II
Alexa E. Estacio
Samantha C. Evans
Aleksandra, V. Evert
Jordan M. Fabula
Ryan I. Fagenson
Awarded to the top graduating students who have
demonstrated extraordinary academic excellence and
a high level of extracurricular service
Amelia J. Duvall
Emilie W. Wood
Outstanding Senior Thesis Award
In Recognition of an exemplarily senior thesis
Natalia D. Nelson
Outstanding Service Awards
Awarded to ES students who have demonstrated exemplary
environmental service within the ES Program
and/or the campus and local community
Samuel G. Breyfogle
Katelyn M. Freeze
Allyson J. Gaarder
Kristen Herrera
Lauren P. Menzer
Paulina P. Pevzner
Melissa S. Steritz
Kristin D. Van Der Kar
Tom Rogers Scholarship
Awarded to continuing ES students based on
personal efforts which embody the ideals of civic
responsibility and environmental stewardship
Marie E. Laule
Garrison Yang
Marc McGinnes Law and Advocacy Scholarship
In recognition of outstanding academic achievement
in environmental law courses and outstanding
environmental service and leadership
Kian C. Pakdel