Ava Vaughan, Program on the Environment Undergraduate Scholarship

Ava is pursuing a dual degree in business and environmental studies with a minor in nutrition. She grew up on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington and spent most of her life on Dabob Bay. Her passions include sustainable food systems, conservation, and ESG reporting. During Ava’s time at UW, she has participated in a variety of activities but has focused her time particularly on Net Impact and the Dirty Dozen Student Farm Club. As incoming Net Impact President, Ava will continue her work at the intersection of business sustainability and ethics. She will also continue as the undergraduate student representative for the Population Health Initiative. After graduation in 2026, she intends to pursue a career in corporate sustainability or work in the nonprofit sector.

Cyril Clement, Program on the Environment Undergraduate Scholarship

Cyril is majoring in Environmental Studies and Medical Anthropology and will be graduating in 2026. He is from Bangalore, India, and is interested in the intersections of climate change and public health. He believes that community building is crucial to addressing the biggest issues our world faces. He was the project lead for the first Zero Waste Week, a program with the goal of creating a platform where participants can give the problem of waste generation a more conscious thought and learn about specific actions to mitigate waste production. He co-founded Narcare, a national non-profit and UW student organization that is dedicated to spreading awareness on ways we can protect ourselves and others from the dangers of the opioid crisis. For his anthropology honors thesis, he is exploring the role of health insurance navigators in improving access to healthcare for Washington State’s undocumented residents. He characterizes expanding access to health insurance as an environmental justice policy that can help protect migrant farmworkers from the health risks associated with climate change. Through his further studies and career, he plans to uncover ways to disrupt the policies and systemic mechanisms that contribute to environmental injustice and inequality.  

Sofia Berkowitz, Program on the Environment Undergraduate Scholarship

Sofia Berkowitz is an Environmental Studies major from Denver, Colorado graduating in the spring of 2026. Their focus within the major is on environmental justice and she is planning to minor in Public Policy. She has worked on campus this year with the Campus Sustainability Fund and next year will serve as the Chair of their Committee, as well as well as continuing her leadership role within the Zero Waste Week program. This summer, she is working as the Fundraising and Grants Intern at the non-profit ZeroWaste.Org as a Jackson Munro Public Service Fellow. They hope to use the skills gained through these opportunities to continue advancing local sustainability and equity, both on a social and environmental scale.