Payton Myers was voted by the Committee on the Campus Environment as the October Sustainability Champion. This monthly award recognizes a UT faculty, staff or student who exemplifies what it means to “Make Orange Green”.
Payton is a junior with a double major in Business Analytics’ and Sustainability. She is the President of the student organization SPEAK, which stands for Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville. At Campus Sustainability Day, she lead SPEAK in making their famous veggie burgers, which offered attendees a vegan dining option.
Recently she took the time out of her busy schedule to help the Office of Sustainability film their “Day on the Life of a Sustainability Student” video. Payton also helped raise awareness for the Rohm & Haas hearing, which is a chemical company located in the Fort Sanders neighborhood who attempted to get a renewed permit that would allow them to store hazardous waste.
“Payton is always willing to take time out of her day to help others in regards to sustainability. As the President of SPEAK she always plans informative meetings for group members. She also has been active in helping SPEAK with their student garden at the UT Visitor Center, and adopting a plot at the Grow Lab. She lives sustainability, and encourages everyone around her to do the same by the passion she has for the topic.” (nominee submittal).
Congratulations Payton!
Get to know more about Payton:
Campus Involvements: President of SPEAK, Member of Green Fee Committee, E&S, Environmental Summit, CCE
Hometown: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Favorite outdoor activity: Hiking and Nature Photography
Favorite quote: “How we spend our days, of course, is how we spend our lives” – Heather Lende (If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name)
Favorite thing about UT: I am very happy with our number of environmental classes available. No matter what my specific interests or passions are I can find classes that cover those topics and introduce me to sustainable ideas that I had not previously thought of.
Dream Job: Data Analyst for an environmental organization or company
As a monthly award, we are now accepting nominations for the November Sustainability Champion. To nominate someone click the link: November Sustainability Champion.