The Pitt-Johnstown Environmental Sustainability Club had a turnout of 16 students to start off the year’s first meeting.  

Their first meeting was held on Sept. 17th in the Engineering and Science Building.

The turnout appeared promising according to club president, Sophomore Emma Gyurisin.

“So far so good with the turnout. We had our first meeting of the year and everyone seemed very enthusiastic about it.”

The club was founded by senior Lindsay Pyle through a Real World Interest Group last year.

Pyle previously was an intern at Waste Management. A requirement for her internship was to create a group on campus regarding better recycling initiatives while interacting more with the environment.

Gyurisin stepped up from her secretarial position to club president due to Pyle’s upcoming December graduation.

The club members have a few new ideas to start off the year.

“We are planning to hold information sessions with students about how they can be more environmentally friendly as college students, hold trail clean ups, plant flowers and host a recycling Olympic during earth week.” she said.

At least one student has noticed the club.

Freshman Gabrielle Williams supports the club in their devotion to preserving the environment, but hopes to see more advertisement of their projects and goals in the process.

“As a student I think it would be more beneficial for us to have a better understanding and awareness of the functions and projects performed by the Environmental Sustainability club.”

In particular, she suggested a few natural additions to campus grounds.

“A student-arranged flower garden would be an exciting touch and a good project to be involved with. I would definitely want to be a part of something along those lines.”

Gyurisin sees an exciting year ahead and anticipates high participation among members.

“People were passionate about our ideas for making the campus more environmentally friendly, new ideas such as hosting an environmental movie night showing a film like Gasland.”

With these efforts and developing ideas, Environmental Sustainability Club say they’d like to havemore students become involved with their efforts.

Anyone interested in helping local environment to stop by and see what they are all about.

Williams shared her interest in potentially becoming part of the project.

“Any efforts made toward preserving the earth and making it healthier are a step in the right direction to me.”