Creativity Meets Sustainability in Lawrenceville’s Sustainuary Events

By Riley McKibben '25, Student Council Sustainability Representative

 

Ah yes, the most wonderful time of the year: Sustainuary! Spanning all House affiliations, Forms, sports teams, and clubs, Lawrenceville’s Sustainability Council (SusCo) brings together approximately 60 active participants and like-minded students eager to inspire change on campus and beyond. Between January and February, students gather to celebrate and educate the Lawrenceville community on environmentalism, stewardship, waste management, and more. This year, SusCo introduced initiatives across various mediums, demonstrating that sustainability truly is an interdisciplinary practice.

 

Lawrenceville kicked off Sustainuary on January 10 in collaboration with the School’s Hutchins Galleries. SusCo hosted an artist workshop featuring Susan Hoenig and her collection, “Rhythms of the Land.” Organized by Gloria Yu '26 and Melina Guarino (Curator and Gallery Director of Lawrenceville’s Hutchins Galleries), the event drew many students for a night of creative, ecologically conscious artwork. Between constructing bird sculptures and painting wooden cross sections, students engaged in the visual arts while cultivating environmental empathy.

 

“It was amazing to see students harness their creative visions to produce something unique and relevant,” said Yu.

The Food & Farm SusCo subcommittee established the first Smoothie Bowl Bar of the 2024-25 school year. In partnership with Lawrenceville’s food service provider, Sustainable Fare, the bar featured four yogurt base flavors, various berries and fruit squares, granola, dragon fruit sauce, coconut flakes, and spreads like Nutella and sunbutter. Inspired by the popular shop Playa Bowls, the Smoothie Bowl Bar was created to reduce delivery-related carbon footprints. Spearheaded by Ainsley Walters '27, Elijah Miller '25, and Sofia Swindell ’25, the initiative offered students a healthy, convenient option.

 

“Instead of contributing to the carbon footprint of delivery services, we brought the option directly to students,” said Walters. Overall, the bar was a huge success, and SusCo looks forward to making it a regular feature during dinner at the Tsai Dining Hall.

 

The Community Service SusCo subcommittee partnered with the YMCA-based after-school program at Slackwood Elementary School in Lawrence Township, N.J. Guided by Elizabeth Ferguson from Lawrenceville’s Office of Community Service, Lawrentians worked with students from kindergarten to third grade to teach environmental topics.

 

“This Sustainuary, a new cohort of volunteers continues to teach environmental topics to young students,” said Audrey Cheng '25, a member of the Community Service subcommittee.

 

On the Outreach subcommittee, Antonia Comaniciu '25 and Sophia Liu '25 have been increasing engagement through the SusCo Villeage Green Newsletter and the Instagram account, @lvillesustainability. With regular posts featuring facts, tips, and statistics, Outreach plans to host a giveaway at the end of Sustainuary to further engage followers.

 

Finally, the Events subcommittee, led by Louise Carroll '26 and Audrey Shueh '27, organized a series of sustainability-focused activities for the student body. A highlight was the Trashion Show, a long-running favorite competition held during Smeeting. Houses battled for points and bragging rights by creating inventive outfits from waste materials. Officiated by Kiah Smith '25 and Busola Babatunde '25, the Trashion Show wowed the audience and judges alike with designs ranging from ball gowns to gladiator costumes. Congratulations to Carter House, whose bird costume earned top honors.

 

To conclude Sustainuary, Lawrenceville is hosting three special events. On Friday January 24, students enjoyed a Sustainuary Game Night, participating in trivia, charades, and Jeopardy.

 

On February 14, the School’s annual Dinner in the Dark will take place, where students dine under dimmed lights to highlight the importance of energy conservation—and set the mood for Valentine’s Day. And at Smeeting on February 20, conservationist and photographer Luca Martinez will present on his extensive work protecting the Florida Everglades, with implications for conservation around the world. He will also join students over dinner in the Tsai Private Dining Room to talk further about his work. Sustainuary serves as a testament to Lawrenceville’s commitment to environmental stewardship, blending creativity, education, and action to inspire change.