My name is Aspen Grieshaber and I am currently a second-year student at IUPUI studying Sustainable Management and Policy. When I started in the fall of 2020, I had no intentions of doing any internships or work. However, in my Principles of Sustainability class, Miranda Frausto, the teacher’s assistant at the time, approached me and told me about an opportunity to intern at IUPUI Sustainability.
It was a position for the Sustainable Waste Management Intern. I had previously led an initiative at my high school to get small recycling bins for each classroom/office in the district, so I felt very drawn to this specific position. After I had help from many friends, I was given the Sustainable Waste Management Intern position for IUPUI Sustainability!
I first started working in October of 2020 where I began looking at waste data. My focus then quickly shifted to the new Riverwalk Composting Program. Led by Amber Greaney, funding and approval were finally obtained for the first-ever residential composting program at IUPUI. We began working out logistics, making educational materials, and getting the pilot program up and running! We ended our first year of residential composting with 85 total pounds of compost.
Working with IUPUI Sustainability was completely enhanced my experience at IUPUI, especially getting through my first year of college during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only do I love the work, but the office is a work environment I have never experienced before. I always feel I can be my true self, everyone is so excited to congratulate each others’ accomplishments, and they always remember the little things. Every time I work on a project I think “I am so lucky to have gotten an opportunity like this”. I mean every word I say, too! The projects, people, and environment at IUPUI Sustainability is the main reason why I am enjoying college so far.
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