Austin College sophomore Lorenzo X. Guel-Camp will be the featured speaker at the Environmental Studies Lunch Talk at noon on Tuesday, October 30, in Wright Campus Center, Room 231. He will discuss experiences from his 2018 summer internship at Little Traverse Conservancy, a nonprofit conservancy in Northern Michigan that preserves some 500 land parcels of woodland areas and natural habitats from development. The luncheon is free and open to the public.
Raised in El Paso, Texas, Lorenzo found his passion for hiking and exploring very young. He has made frequent hikes at Hueco Tanks State Park. He said he immersed himself in the culture and history of the park, nurturing a deep connection to nature. “This sacred place is where a community of family and friends held a ceremony for my father when he struggled with gastric cancer,” Lorenzo said. “I’ve grown so much since his death nine years ago, and natural environments like Hueco Tanks have given me a place to heal. “
Lorenzo said there is importance in conserving these locations by understanding their history, culture, and ecology, plus the biology of the flora and fauna living there. Through his interest in nature, he became interested in environmental studies and the importance of human-caused climate change. He continue that interest in in ecology and preserving flora and fauna of the park through his Austin College studies in environmental studies.
In his internship at Little Traverse Conservancy, Lorenzo was responsible for tasks such as bat monitoring, trail maintenance, carpentry, and organizing special events. The experience “provided a valuable career option and memories that will be everlasting,” he said. Though he is unsure of his plans after Austin College, this experience opened exciting doors to future work in the discipline.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.