When TMCC student Riley Sherman was younger, he became worried about climate change and made it his goal to find solutions. While at first incorporating sustainability into his day-to-day life, he is now an environmental advocate at TMCC and across his community.
As the founder and president of the TMCC Reimagining Sustainability Club, he leads a group of passionate advocates on campus who work to reach students and faculty with different interests and involve them in sustainability. Following TMCC’s year-round dedication to sustainability, Sherman and his fellow students are bringing a unique environmental perspective to our campus
Passion Turns Into Action
“When I was younger, I was stressed out about climate change and decided I needed to take immediate action,” says Sherman when asked about what drives him. “I stared small, I took action around my house, starting a compost bin, creating a hydroponic garden, and avoiding plastics. However, I felt like I wasn’t doing enough.”
“So, I started my first environmental club at my high school where I realized the importance of educating students on climate change and that we need to bring everyone into the climate conversation. I have used these lessons to start our TMCC campus club focusing on reaching out to all students and involving them in our efforts.”
“Outside of TMCC, I’ve become a passionate sustainability advocate, dedicated to driving environmental change through community initiatives and policy work. As a leader in Citizens' Climate Lobby and the American Red Cross, I have led both local and national sustainable efforts, specifically utilizing my major in psychology to understand human behavior aspects of the topic. I have been nationally recognized for my work in the area.”
Success Around Campus
In the past year, Sherman and his club have had great success in their sustainability efforts on campus. He talks about one of his first initiatives: reducing campus waste. “Our club realized some of our campus waste could be reused with the access amount of trash TMCC has. So, alongside my advisor, Sociology Professor Marynia Giren-Navarro, we submitted a grant proposal to make this happen. We got the money and bought compostable utensils, compost systems, and gardening supplies.”
Once the funding had been spent, Sherman acknowledged that it took a village to complete this project: “In turn, we worked alongside the gardening club to start up this composting and use the compost for our campus garden. We did this by making a three credit gardening class with the help of Geology Professor Roger Putnum where students did hands-on work on the garden and participated in soil sample research, a great way to bring many students into our club. And, it set a precedent for future activities like this.”
Walk around the Dandini Campus and you will find more evidence of Sherman and his club’s work. Likewise, the Reimagining Sustainability club solicited the Shane McConkey Foundation, who donated a $1500 bench made from 100 lbs. of plastic bottle caps. You can visit the bench outside the Sierra Building at the Dandini Campus to see what recycled plastic is capable of becoming.
“To repay them for their donation, we will be collecting bottle caps for the next year on campus,” he said and gave a call to action. “You can help us out by throwing your caps in one of the bins that say ‘throw caps here’!”
He also gave a shout out to the Sustainability Champions, a coalition of TMCC staff and faculty focused on sustainability, who have helped with this project and others in many ways: “Barrie Fenton, TMCC’s social media and event coordinator, has assisted with media outreach for our project. While Ben Davis, the new director of the Sustainability Champions, has funded bins for our caps. And, many other teachers have provided over 10 lbs. of caps so far!”
Recognition and Further Advocacy
Club vice president Christian Mcduffie has also been a great help with our work but especially their repairs class. Sherman says: “As a handyman, (Mcduffie) has brought unique perspectives to our club. Recently, we collaborated together to create a basic repairs class for students. Many don’t realize how much water gets wasted from things like toilet leaks. Educating many students & community members, we won the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge which is a competition run by the Shane McConkey Foundation, getting 4th place in our category.”
Sherman also reminisced on his own submission for the EcoChallenge back in 2022-2023. From his research on environmental literacy, focusing on the lack of understanding that our actions and depletion of resources now impact the ability for generations in the future to sustain themselves, he won 2nd place in the EcoChallenge and won $2500 in prize money.
Looking Ahead
Goals for this year will continue to include Sherman’s classmates alongside club members, all working for common goals.
“This semester, we will be involving human sexuality and psychology students in reducing our climate impact by educating on and offering reusable feminine products to students throughout our campus,” Sherman continued. “Our activities involve a diverse group of students and the people who are involved will always keep changing.
Sherman hopes to keep encouraging students to get involved in sustainability and plans to use his competition money to promote the advocacy of other TMCC students. He says, “We’re taking suggestions from any student for how we can use our $2500 to take next actions on campus! We will have a whiteboard in Red Mountain Building, where you can write your suggestions.”
How You Can Get Involved
Save your plastic bottle caps and donate them in one of these locations:
- Red Mountain Building - outside Cafe Verde
- Sierra Building - outside Elizabeth Sturm Library
- William N. Pennington Applied Technology Center - coming soon
- Pennington Health Science Center - coming soon
Students can get involved in further club initiatives by emailing club president Riley Sherman.