Congratulations to six College of the Environment students recognized as the 2020 Husky 100! Included in this year’s Husky 100 are Michaela Leung from Earth and Space Sciences, Olivia Sanderfoot, Autumn Forespring and Sierra Red Bow from Environmental and Forest Sciences and Bee Elliott and Celine Fujikawa from the Program on the Environment. The Husky 100 actively connect what happens inside and outside of the classroom and apply what they learn to make a difference on campus, in their communities and for the future. Through their passion, leadership and commitment, these students inspire all of us to shape our own Husky Experience.
Michaela Leung
Bainbridge Island, WA
B.S., Earth and Space Sciences
“Experiences at the UW through my coursework, research and personal life have shaped my desire to become a professor and foster inclusive scientific communities. I have developed a strong personal identity as a scientist, and a passion for equity and diversity in education. My college journey with mentorship and leadership has transformed me into a strong and resilient woman with powerful dreams of a more inclusive academia.”
Olivia Sanderfoot
Madison, WI
Ph.D., Environmental and Forest Sciences
“I am proud to play a critical role in launching a novel research program to study the impacts of smoke and air pollutants on wildlife. After graduation, I hope to pursue a career in which I can leverage my expertise, communication skills and passion for wildlife conservation to fight for policies to improve the lives of birds and people.”
Bee Elliott
Fullerton, CA
B.A., Environmental Studies
“I’m an “artful activist” exploring and experiencing the interwoven powers that community and the arts hold for collective transformation and healing towards climate justice. From singing in the streets with our Seattle-based group, “The People’s Echo,” to organizing with Sunrise, 350 Seattle and our UW Sustainable Student Action Club, my work is deeply rooted in the powers we all hold for healing, storytelling, vision-sharing and mending our collective ability to feel through arts and culture.”
Autumn Forespring
Centralia, WA
B.S., Environmental Science and Resource Management
“The community I have found here is my reason for persevering in this exclusionary and inherently colonial institution. I owe my ambitions and successes to my colleagues in First Nations at the University of Washington; the ever-present faculty and staff of the American Indian Studies and Environmental Studies departments, the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, and the wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House; and my family. I intend to pursue a career in wilderness therapy after graduation.”
Celine Fujikawa
Guam, USA
B.A., Environmental Studies
“My vision for the diversifying the environmental sector has inspired me to be a model spokesperson for people in my community. It has prepared me with the resilience to work intentionally and has taught me how to communicate across diverse cultures and backgrounds. I want to take concrete steps to be a part of a movement that ensures every person, regardless of race, where you live or income level to have healthy air to breathe, clean water to drink and a land free of toxic chemicals.”
Sierra Red Bow
Virginia Beach, VA
B.S., Environmental Science and Resource Management
“Háŋ mitákuyepi. Pheži Ĥóta Naĝí-wiŋ emáčiyapi kštó. My English name is Sierra Red Bow. I am an Oglála Lakȟóta student double majoring in American Indian Studies and Environmental Science & Resource Management. As an Urban Native, my time at UW has allowed me to deepen my sense of community while revitalizing my culture and language. I look forward to sharing my Indigenous knowledge with others to empower the next generation to care for the environment with respect and reciprocity.”
