On April 24, the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program at the University of Kentucky gathered at the Lyric Theatre to celebrate graduating seniors and recognize students whose work reflects the interdisciplinary spirit of ENS. During the ceremony, the program presented two annual honors: the Creativity in ENS Award and the ENS Outstanding Graduating Senior Award. Below, from left to right in front: Holly Cason, Graciela Martinez, Sarah Ghanim, Zoe McComas, Kaylee Bliss, Jess Harrison, Emily Simon and Sophia McKay. Tony Stallins and Bob Sandmeyer (back) are the ENS supervising faculty. 
Creativity in ENS Award
The Creativity in ENS Award recognizes students who explore environmental and sustainability themes through creative work that extends beyond traditional academic scholarship.
Kaylee Bliss
Kaylee Bliss graduates with a double major in Marketing and Environmental and Sustainability Studies and a minor in Digital Media and Design. A Social Entrepreneurship Scholar and member of the Student Sustainability Council, Kaylee spent the past year hosting programming every Tuesday on WRFL, including Greentalks and the music show Environmentally Sound, using campus radio as a platform to connect environmental conversations with music, culture, and community.
Jess Harrison
Jess Harrison graduates with dual degrees in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Psychology and a minor in Music Performance. Through internships with WUKY and the Iroquois Amphitheatre, Jess gained experience in music festival production and logistics, combining interests in environmental engagement, music and public programming.
Graciela Martinez
Graciela Martinez graduates with a degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, a certificate in Urban and Community Forestry and minors in Interdisciplinary Arts and Geography. During an internship with the UK Special Collections Library, she processed historical records from the Weather Bureau, a predecessor to the National Weather Service, and developed an artwork that used these data to engage the public with environmental history. Graciela also contributed to the Student Sustainability Council, Alternative Service Break and the UK Office of Sustainability, where she developed and managed "Resiliently Rooted," a community art exhibition focused on forestry.
Zoe McComas
Zoe McComas graduates with a degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, minors in Geography and Wildlife Biology and Management and a certificate in Urban and Community Forestry. Her work in ecological research has included fieldwork, data analysis, scientific writing and conference presentations related to forest restoration and the effects of invasive insects and plants. Zoe has also served as a certified peer tutor and advanced tutor, participated in outreach and fund-raising with the Horticultural Club, volunteered with the Primate Rescue Center in Nicholasville, served as a Lewis Honors College ambassador and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in 2026.
ENS Outstanding Graduating Senior Award
The ENS Outstanding Graduating Senior Award recognizes students whose academic achievement and scholarly engagement distinguish them within the program.
Leila Dawson
Leila Dawson, a fall 2025 graduate, earned a minor in Public Policy. As part of her degree, she conducted funded research in Bali in conjunction with a study abroad program there. She examined the local operation of seaweed farming and its linkages to gender roles and the blue economy. Leila also participated in a study abroad at Maynooth University in Ireland. She was a 2023 Chellgren student fellow. At present she is employed by the Kentucky Transportation Center and is likely to purse graduate study or law school in the near future.
Holly Cason
Holly Cason graduates with dual degrees in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Natural Resources and Environmental Science and a minor in Spanish. Her experience includes work as a sustainability intern and student employee with UK Recycling and as a sustainability intern with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. She has also served as a student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences and as an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa this semester.
Sarah Ghanim
Sarah Ghanim graduates with a double major in Political Science and Environmental and Sustainability Studies and a minor in Philosophy. She worked in Washington, D.C., with advocacy organizations communicating with congressional offices about environmental issues and policy and has also worked locally with Urban Impact’s tutoring and enrichment programs for elementary- and middle-school students. Sarah has volunteered with Campus Kitchen to reduce food waste and prepare meals for Lexington residents.
Sophia McKay
Sophia McKay graduates with dual degrees in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Geography. She has been involved with the Student Sustainability Council and completed internships with the Kentucky Department of Revenue, the Urban Forest Initiative, the Geospatial Department of the UK Facilities Library and the city of Ashland, gaining experience across environmental policy, urban forestry and geospatial work.
Emily Simon
Emily Simon graduates with a double major in Public Policy and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. She has worked as an outreach intern with Bluegrass Greensource, as an intern with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Air Quality and as a research assistant in the UK College of Education on a project examining homelessness and educational stability in public schools. She will begin law school at the University of Maine this fall.