Third week is coming to a close and Earth Week is upon us, bringing with it the 2026 Sustainability SIP Symposium. The Symposium, hosted at the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership this Wednesday, April 22nd, will showcase 17 seniors with sustainable Senior-Integrated Projects across their respective departments. The keynote speaker, Reese Dillard, will speak about relationship building and environmental political movements beginning at 6:30 pm, followed by two rounds of senior presenters starting at 7:30 pm. All are welcome, and we hope to see you there!
Now that it’s the spring trimester and summer is in sight, current juniors may be investigating their options for SIPs. The Symposium is put on by the Larry J. Bell ’80 Environmental Stewardship Center and the Environmental Studies department, but the presenters aren’t limited to seniors with the Environmental Studies concentration. Drawing from this year’s graduating seniors, Madeline Moss (English major) reported on Southwest Michigan food systems, while Ryan Neihsl (History major) compared the effect of beavers and pigs on European-Indigenous relations. Also featured are a Studio Art and Critical Ethnic Studies double major, Sophia Sprick, who will present sculptures reflecting material memory and embodied knowledge, and Nora Parks-Church, who will present on the ethics of invasion and restoration ecology as part of her Philosophy and Psychology double major.
Nearly every year, a few seniors choose to complete their SIP at Kalamazoo College’s Lillian Anderson Arboretum, our 140-acre off-campus green space. This year, Madi Magda K’26, is showing how tread management can combat trail erosion. In past years, seniors have focused on land cover area classifications or invasive species in the Arb. If you want more examples of past research, check out our past Symposiums! Similarly, seniors have chosen to conduct their SIP through an internship, such as Tending Tilth, where Lauren Stallman K’26 studied prescribed grazing for ecosystem management, or with the Kalamazoo Nature Center, where seniors can study regenerative agriculture practices or youth outdoor education. Some students took their focus out of state, such as Nat Ward K’26, who studied the bison in Yellowstone National Park, or Sofia Fleming K’25, who researched invasive squirrel diets in Washington state.
As rising seniors, some juniors may be interested in bridging their SIP with their experiences abroad, like Brooke Dolhay K’25, who studied marine ecosystems at the Institute for Marine Research in the Philippines, or Hailey Yoder K’26, who observed the effects of reef restoration in the Galapagos.
The key takeaway is to network! There are many ways to get involved in research or community engagement, and the easiest way to find them is to ask around. The ESC can suggest ideas from their wishlist of sustainable projects that a rising senior can embrace, and Environmental Studies professors often hear about research and internship opportunities in the area that they can connect students to. As summer approaches, consider experiential education opportunities near you over the break, and reach out to the ESC if you want to discuss ideas or are looking for project funding! There is no one-size-fits-all approach to completing a SIP, and this Symposium showcases seniors’ creativity and intersecting interests in their capstone projects.
Want to be inspired in person? Come to the Sustainability SIP Symposium this Earth Day to celebrate our seniors and learn about how they’re integrating sustainability into their studies.
Environmental Stewardship Center
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