Greener, Greater and Hands-On: Student-Centric Sustainability Summits Coming to a Campus Near You

Nov. 13, 2025

Do you know what nurdles are? They are small pellets used to manufacture plastic products that find their way into our waterways. A presentation at the Eastfield Campus Sustainability Summit on Friday, Sept. 26, explained how anyone can comb the shores of lakes and rivers and become part of a nationwide effort to track these pollutants and hold the polluters accountable.

For the final workshop, everyone headed to the Eastfield Campus Community Garden. Students learned about planting and garden care. You could re-pot a plant to bring home, plant one in the garden or just help tidy up garden beds. Those in attendance were given sheets of flower seeds to plant at home

The Eastfield summit was the first in a series of Sustainability Summits to be held at each Dallas College campus over the next year. The theme of “One Person, One Action, One Future: Building Sustainability Together” aligns perfectly with programs tailored specifically to each campus.

Sonia Ford, Dallas College Assistant Director of Sustainability-Special Projects, works closely with on-site Engineering, Technology, Math and Science (ETMS) faculty.

“Our presentations emphasize empowering students, faculty, staff and community members to unite to create a sustainable future,” Ford said.

Interactive sessions are led by top sustainability experts, providing opportunities to share ideas, connect and bond over a unified mission.

Helping to organize the summits, including leading student volunteers, is the perfect assignment for work-study student Shanelle Tennyson, who assisted Ford. Tennyson will graduate with her Associate of Science in December and plans to continue her education to earn a bachelor’s degree in ecology.

Shanelle Tennyson (left) and Sonia Ford “It was very fulfilling to see so many students engaged in this summit after almost a year and a half of preparation,” said Tennyson, who has a passion for teaching others about the environment and how our ecosystems are interrelated. Through working on this project, she’s gained additional experience in managing events, public speaking, diplomacy and fundraising.

The summits are admission-free for students, staff and community members. You can come and go throughout the day as your schedule allows. Students can earn Service Learning/Community Service Credits and employees receive Professional Development Credit for workshops they attend. (No credit is given for repeat attendance at the same workshop.)

Continental breakfast and lunch are included.

Upcoming Sustainability Summit Dates and Locations

• Dec. 3, 2025, Cedar Valley Campus, N1051
• April 2026, El Centro Campus (date to be determined)
• Fall 2026, Brookhaven, Mountain View and North Lake campuses (dates to be determined)

Students interested in volunteering at the summits should contact Shanelle Tennyson by email: STennyson@student.dallascollege.edu.

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