TMCC student Riley Sherman has turned his early concerns about climate change into active environmental advocacy. As the founder and president of the TMCC Reimagining Sustainability Club, Sherman leads a group dedicated to involving students and faculty in sustainability efforts.
Sherman recalls his initial steps towards environmental action: “When I was younger, I was stressed out about climate change and decided I needed to take immediate action.” His journey began with small changes at home, like starting a compost bin and avoiding plastics. This evolved into founding an environmental club at his high school, where he realized the importance of educating peers on climate issues.
At TMCC, Sherman has expanded these efforts. He has led initiatives such as reducing campus waste by securing funding for compostable utensils and gardening supplies. Collaborating with Sociology Professor Marynia Giren-Navarro and Geology Professor Roger Putnum, they created a three-credit gardening class integrating hands-on work and soil research.
The club’s achievements are visible across the Dandini Campus. A notable project includes a $1500 bench made from recycled plastic bottle caps donated by the Shane McConkey Foundation. To repay this donation, Sherman encourages cap collection across campus: “You can help us out by throwing your caps in one of the bins that say ‘throw caps here’!”
Support from TMCC staff has been instrumental in these projects. Barrie Fenton assisted with media outreach while Ben Davis funded cap collection bins. The club’s vice president Christian Mcduffie also contributed significantly through a basic repairs class aimed at water conservation education.
Sherman’s past participation in the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge earned him 2nd place for his research on environmental literacy. This year, he plans to use prize money to further engage students in sustainability initiatives on campus.
Looking ahead, Sherman aims to involve diverse groups of students in sustainability efforts: “This semester, we will be involving human sexuality and psychology students in reducing our climate impact.” Suggestions for using their prize money are welcomed from all students via a whiteboard located in Red Mountain Building.
For those interested in contributing to sustainability efforts or donating plastic bottle caps, locations include:
– 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 contact Riley Sherman via email for more information on joining club activities.
