2014-15 Interns
Matt Gilroy is a junior studying Construction Engineering and Management. He is a part of a professional engineering fraternity and a peer mentor for Leadership Tech. His hobbies include hiking, recycling, and watching football. Matt is looking forward to inspiring campus residents to go green and making a difference on campus.
Laura Featherstone is a junior majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning and pursuing a minor in Natural Sustainable Environments. This is her second year as an Office of Energy and Sustainability intern. She enjoys hiking and volunteering with animal groups. Laura hopes that with this internship more students will adopt a sustainable lifestyle.
Patrick Roden-Reynolds is a senior in the College of Natural Resources and Environment studying Wildlife Science. He grew up an avid outdoorsman hunting, fishing, and camping. He is excited to see the expansion of green energy worldwide as well as more sustainable lifestyles. He plans to become a community ecologist studying the interactions between wildlife conservation and green energy sources.
Amory Fischer is an Environmental Policy and Planning student in the class of 2016. He likes hiking, board games, politics, and ballroom dancing. He is looking forward to finding fun and creative ways to engage people with recycling.
Catherine Canary is a junior on the Ecoreps team who is majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning with a Political Science minor. She aspires to practice Environmental Law someday so that she can work to defend a planet that cannot defend itself. She also loves serving the New River Valley community as a sister of Virginia Tech’s only service sorority, Chi Delta Alpha. She is excited to help create a greener Hokie nation this year.
Austin Himes is a senior studying Economics with an Environmental Policy and Planning focus. He is the intern “Energy Team” leader and the vice president of the Environmental Coalition. He is interested in cost benefits of sustainable development and large-scale renewable energy investment policy. Austin enjoys running, traveling, and sailing.
Alyssa Henriquez is a senior majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning with minors in Watershed Management and Geosciences. She enjoys kayaking, hanging out on the beach on sunny days, and exploring new places with friends. Alyssa is extremely excited to return for her senior year and start up Virginia Tech’s first Ecoreps program.
Emma Davidson is a sophomore Environmental Policy and Planning major who plans to minor in Economics. She likes long walks on the beach and being active on campus. She is excited to get to work with on-campus sustainability and to teach residence halls about green practices.
Meghan Hekl is a junior in Civil Engineering with a minor in Green Engineering. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, climbing trees, and frolicking through fields of flowers. As an Office of Sustainability intern, she hopes to help build a better future for Virginia Tech by spreading awareness about sustainability issues and practices throughout campus.
Kelsey Hottel is a Natural Resources and Conservation major with a minor in Forestry. She enjoys hiking, crafting, netflixing, and eating. She is excited to work with the recycling team on engaging and educating students on becoming green Hokies.
Katie Atkinson is a senior Biological Systems Engineering major. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, playing outside, and listening to music. This year she is looking forward to promoting fun sustainability things around campus.
Katie Palombo is a junior majoring in Political Science. She enjoys Chipotle, kittens, and good vibes. She is excited to help make Virginia Tech an even more amazing and sustainable school.
Melinda Nash is a junior majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning with a minor in Political Science. She enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with friends. She is excited to meet new people this year and work together to make Virginia Techan even better place.
Neileen Shoemaker is a junior studying Environmental Policy and Planning with minor in Environmental Econ. She was born in Manila, Philippines, and migrated to the United States at the age of 7. During her free time, she enjoys singing and playing the piano or ukulele, or just enjoying the outdoors. She has a passion for recycling and sustainable living, and hopes to become an environmental lawyer. Neileen is excited to help Hokies become more green.
Smita Sharma is a senior studying sustainable biomaterials major, pursuing the sustainable enterprise track. She also has minor in green engineering. Smita is on the women's club soccer team and enjoys playing other competitive sports. She is excited to work with her peers to raise awareness and make effective changes on campus.
Kyle Dost is a senior majoring in Environmental Policy and planning with a double minor in Environmental Science and Wetland Science. He loves to whitewater kayak, travel, camp, and hike. He is excited to be an Office of Sustainability intern not only to further the University’s programs and promises, but also to help spread the word about sustainability to the campus and beyond.
Pamela Block is a senior majoring in Environmental Resource Management with minors in Math and Forestry. She enjoys biking, backpacking, camping, scuba diving, caving, and anything else outside. When asked why she was excited to be an Office of Sustainability intern she responded, “I am excited to make sustainability an understood and embraced term on the Virginia Tech campus; to get others excited about it as I am.”
Dana Gargiule is a 5th year Mining and Minerals Engineer pursuing two minors of Green Engineering and Geosciences. She is enthusiastic about being an Office of Sustainability intern on the Energy Team because she strongly believes that conserving energy is an important issue that needs to be highly considered. She hopes for a world one day with 100 percent clean, renewable energy. In her free time, Dana loves to listen to live music, hoop dance, collect crystals, go hiking, craft, travel, and be inspired by her friends.