Sustainability Spotlight: Our Interns
The Sustainability Team interns have been hard at work this summer learning the ropes! Three new faces joined the team in addition to our existing Gardens and Outdoor Learning intern. We asked each of our interns to share a little bit about themselves, their niche within the Sustainability Team, and where they’re headed.
Jackson Farho: Gardens and Outdoor Learning
Jackson Farho has served as the Sustainability Team’s first Garden and Outdoor Learning intern since 2022. He owes much of his skill to his grandmother, a published garden expert who cultivated his knowledge and passion for the art of gardening. Jackson is a junior at UNL working towards a degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. Jackson has had the opportunity to lead gardening and nature education clubs at Saratoga and Campbell Elementaries. He has also supported the planning of Garden Gatherings each quarter. When asked about his plans post-graduation, Jackson shared, “I hope to continue working in the realm of environmental protection and sustainability, specifically dealing with equity and inclusion.”
Alexandra Coffelt: Communications
Entering her third year at UNL, Alexandra (Alex) Coffelt serves as the Sustainability Team’s Communications intern. She is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication with a focus in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communications. Alex comes from a marketing and project management background and joined LPS Sustainability “to combine [her] love of communicating with others and [her] interest in environmental and sustainability topics.” She supports many of the Sustainability Team’s communications and outreach efforts, sharing that she particularly enjoys “having the opportunity to flex both the creative and analytical parts of [her] brain.” After graduation, Alex hopes to find a role that allows her to continue promoting sustainability to a local audience.
Jordan Hummel: Sustainable Design Practices
Jordan Hummel is LPS Sustainability’s first intern to focus on sustainable design practices and how they promote healthy and productive environments. He is currently in his fourth year at UNL as an Interior Design major and learned about LPS Sustainability through a recent studio class: “Our project outline was to design a portable classroom incorporating biophilic design and learning about LPS’s sustainable initiatives piqued my interest. I wanted to explore the sustainable side of green building.” Jordan has quickly taken ownership of his role, visiting LPS worksites each week as part of the construction waste management program. Jordan plans to pursue sustainability-focused professional certifications after graduation so he can continue working with sustainable building and interior design in his career.
Maya Longoria: Curriculum and Education
A UNL senior pursuing her degree in Elementary Education, Maya Longoria brings the welcome perspective of a future educator to the Sustainability Team. Her roots within our district run deep–she is both a former LPS student and a current substitute teacher. Maya’s role includes “reviewing the Lincoln Public Schools curriculum and finding areas where we could tie in some sustainability topics.” She’s already working to prepare lessons, activities, kits, and resources for LPS teachers to incorporate into classrooms and after-school programs. Maya plans to become an elementary school teacher after graduation and looks forward to incorporating her sustainability knowledge into her classroom.
We’re so excited to have a group of interns with such a wide range of interests joining the Sustainability Team! If any of our interns could assist in your classroom, club, or event, please feel free to reach out to us at sustainability@lps.org.
Updated July 25, 2023
