Erin Coffey is freshman at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and is double majoring in journalism and environmental science. She first started organizing during the Fall 2008 semester with the Power Vote campaign. Erin is currently working to establish a strong student coalition on her campus, towards the purchase of clean energy. She is the leader of Bloomsburg's student environmental organization, H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Planet Earth). The one goal she wants to have accomplished before her graduation is the eradication of the coal power plant on her campus. She also wants to establish a strong student movement towards transforming Bloomsburg into a sustainable and community-oriented University. She is extremely excited to organize for Power Shift 2009! elcoffey@bloomu.edu

Rebecca Drago grew up in Rockland County, NY and is currently a sophomore at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. She is a Women’s Studies and Environmental Studies double major, and Vice President of the Environmental Action Club. Rebecca began work on the Cool Cities Campaign in Saratoga in September, and is excited to have the new support of the Fellowship. Besides social activism, Rebecca also loves spending time with family and friends, eating pan-fried noodles, being in the sun, and watching the occasional Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movie.   rdrago@skidmore.edu

Lauren Kemp is currently leading the Marshall chapter of the Sierra Student Coalition to pressure the university administration to institute a Green Initiatives Fee and begin a institutionalized recycling program. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Lauren began organizing through her church youth group at age 16. As a Sophomore at Marshall University majoring in Medical Technology, playing Bassoon in the Marshall Symphony Orchestra and organizing for SSC and West Virginia Youth Action League (WV-YAL), Lauren really enjoys maintaining a busy schedule. Her other interests include jewelry crafting, hanging out with friends, spending time outside and dancing till she drops. Lauren feels empowered by the current political stage to join the youth movement and solve the global climate crisis. lkemp4life@gmail.com

Brian LaVaque is currently a senior sociology major at Concordia University in Chicago where he was born and raised. He is the chairperson of Concordia's environmental and social justice concerns club on campus (c3- Concordia Cougars Conserve). Brian has been politically active for the last two years in Chicago and interned for Illinois State Senator Heather Steans (7th District) in 2008. Brian also worked on the Power Vote campaign in Chicago. Prior to becoming environmentally active, Brian volunteered for two semesters with Youth Outreach Services (YOS) in Cicero, IL. YOS provides after school programing for underprivileged adolescents. Prior to that, Brian worked for Community Support Services in River Forest, IL where he helped the family of a non-verbal autistic teenager. Brian has also volunteered in New Orleans, helping with Katrina clean-up. blavaq@gmail.com

Jessica Moger is a sophomore and double major in Political Science and Psychology at the University of Minnesota--Twin Cities. She is a very active member in her school's chapter of the Minnesotaa Public Interest Research Group, both on the campus and state level, and currently holds the title of Co-taskforce Leader of the Environmental Task Force. She is one of eight UMTC representatives for the MPIRG State Board of Directors as well as the Executive Vice President for the UMTC chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In her spare time, she enjoys reading novels and listening to music.  moger001@umn.edu

 

David Nokovic, a freshman architecture major at Portland State University, is an incredibly passionate individual with a disposition for leadership. He's from Boulder, Colorado where he was a “Who's Who” amongst America’s high school students a few years ago. Recently his commitment to action was chosen for the Clinton Global Initiative to design and implement two renewably-powered water filtration systems for use in rural Thailand. He's stoked to be a fellow for the SSC this year!
de_noko@mac.com, dnokovic@pdx.edu

Ann Raiho is a sophomore at St. Olaf College, majoring in Math and Environmental Studies. She grew up in St. Paul, MN. Last year, she helped plan for Focus the Nation at St. Olaf. This year she is helping Carleton and St. Olaf organize for Power Shift and expand awareness in the Northfield area. Ann is a member of St. Olaf’s Environmental Coalition and plays ultimate frisbee.    raiho@stolaf.edu

Alex Staunch is a junior Biology and Geology Major at SUNY Fredonia in western New York. Alex is President of Campus Climate Challenge and Publicity Chair of the Environmental Affairs Committee at his university. He is also a member of both the Energy Subcommittee and Sustainability Committee. Alex has attended Pennsylvania Sprog, Mountain Justice Spring Break and is organizing students to attend Power Shift. He ran the Power Vote Campaign with numerous groups on campus and was able to acquire over 800 pledges from the student body, as well as increase recycling and raise student support for a Green Fee.                    stau9723@fredonia.edu

Katie Taylor is currently a junior at Penn State University, studying English and Community, Environment, Development. Katie has been working as a Sierra Student Coalition Organizing Fellow coordinating Power Shift '09 on campus and in the fall, worked with the SSC on the Power Vote campaign. Her interests include cooking, yoga, music, writing, snowboarding... the list can go on for awhile... but, she especially enjoys meeting new people, learning, and loving <3
kjt5071@psu.edu

Corrie Weikle’s grassroots organizing began with a block of classes, offered at only a few institutions in the United States, called “Race to Save the Planet.'  She is studying Environmental Science and Business at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC), where she is the Vice President of the Environmental Club “Thee Legged Frog,” a student senator, a student ambassador, and on the board of the President's Climate Commitment. Currently, her students groups are working to revive the recycling program on campus, increase awareness of energy consumption, and work with the administration to create a sustainable campus. When Corrie has free time (which is rare), she likes to do yoga, crochet, play hockey, and compete in triathlons.   corrieweikle@yahoo.com

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