Elon students explore the connection between sustainability and well-being

When you think about sustainability, health and well-being aren’t always the first things that come to mind; however, they are more connected than one might expect.

“Sustainability, health and wellness are deeply connected because the health of people is inseparable from the health of the environments we live in,” said Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach. “Clean air, safe water, nutritious food systems and access to green spaces all support both environmental sustainability and human wellbeing.”

A group of Elon students learned firsthand how these connections can come to life during an alternative break experience.

Alternative breaks, coordinated by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, provide students with opportunities to engage in experiential learning while serving the community. Each experience is student-led, with coordinators playing a key role in shaping the experience, including selecting the location, theme and building relationships with community partners. Additionally, two faculty or staff members are a part of each program and serve as learning partners with the student leaders.

“Alternative break experiences immerse students in communities and allow them to understand a place through its history and culture, while also allowing them to learn from and work alongside community leaders and residents,” said Bob Frigo, assistant dean and director of Kernodle Center for Civic Life. “That combination is a truly powerful community-based engaged learning opportunity.”

For the recent trip to Savannah, Georgia, Betsy Knapp ’28 and Nivea Millner ’26 served as student coordinators, with support from Kaylee Hudson G’26 and Kassidy Puckett ’24 G’26. When Knapp and Millner met last spring to plan the experience, one interest quickly emerged: sustainability.

“We recognized that many students on campus are passionate about environmental issues, further reinforcing our decision,” Knapp said. “As I learned more about the environmental challenges facing Savannah and the work local organizations are doing to address them, it confirmed that sustainability would be a meaningful and relevant focus.”

Knapp and Millner’s perspectives were also reflected among the students on the trip.

“Almost all of the participants on our trip had an existing connection with sustainability either through service or their major,” Millner said. “The experience became less about understanding the issue itself and more about connecting with the community we are seeking to serve and strengthening connections with other students at Elon.”

This shared foundation shaped how students approached their work throughout the week.

Sustainability in action

Through partnerships with organizations, such as Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Re: Purpose Savannah and the Ocean Discovery Center, students engaged in hands-on work addressing food insecurity, environmental conservation and community education.

But beyond the service itself, students began to see sustainability not just as environmental action, but as a reflection of everyday choices and their impact on others.

For some, that realization began with access to food. One student reflected on the privilege of choosing what to eat – something that became more apparent while working with Second Harvest, where even slightly damaged food could make a meaningful difference to someone else.

“It got me thinking that I am one of the people who is privileged enough to choose the box that is ‘pretty enough’ to eat, Mealnie Alarcon ’29 said. “Some people just don’t have that privilege.”

Others were struck by how small actions can create a large-scale impact.

“In just two hours at Second Harvest, we were able to make 4,100 meals,” Knapp shared enthusiastically. “That’s such a small time commitment, but it really makes a big difference in the community.”

On Tybee Island, the connection between environmental health and community well-being came into focus. As students began collecting trash around the beach, the sheer number of items they collected became evidence of how individual behavior can affect entire ecosystems.

“It’s interesting to see how much of an issue trash is, just looking at all that we picked up today,” Knapp said.

This reflection led students to rethink not only how they engage in cleanup efforts, but how they can prevent harm in the first place.

“Whenever you put effort into trying to make an impact, you can see a greater impact,” Millner said. “ You should also make sure you’re not contributing to the problem.”

Service enhancing well-being

These experiences also shaped students’ own well-being. For some, the trip provided a mental reset.

“I have a lot of things going on right now, Alarcon expressed. “This trip was an escape. I got a mental break from these things going on campus.”

For others, it created opportunities to build new relationships, strengthen leadership skills and engage more deeply with the communities around them.

“It lets people meet other people,” Millner said. “Forcing you to talk to each other and figure things out together.”

That sense of connection expanded beyond undergraduate students. Hodson and Puckett both noted how the experience supported their professional growth and deepened their engagement with students.

“It’s allowed me to build more relationships with students outside of my office,” Puckett said.

“The experience has given me different ways and tools to get out in the community and meet and talk to other people,” Hodson added.

By the end of the week, sustainability was no longer just about protecting the planet. It became a way of thinking — one rooted in care for people, places and the environment.

“By spending a week immersed in a community working closely with community partners, students get to see how these organizations play a crucial role in creating healthy and sustainable communities,” said Andrew Moffa, assistant director of the Kernodle Center.