Maddy Vorchheimer ’26, Brookie Olson ’26
Contributors

The Log Investigates: The Gilchrist Environmental Fellowship

The Gilchrist Environmental Fellowship (GEF) is an opportunity for students to pursue a project that they believe benefits both the environment and the Loomis Chaffee community. The GEF is an application-based program where one writes a proposal for an environmental initiative involving some aspect of the LC community, and a committee later reviews the proposal. As much as $5,000 may be given in funding.
The GEF is available to all LC students and faculty. The Review Committee, in conjunction with the Sustainability Committee, reviews proposals and directs project funding.
Many products of projects started with the GEF at LC. These products range from the maple sugaring program to the water bottle filling stations, bat monitoring, pollinator plantings, and a food waste audit.
“[These are all] Loomis hallmark project[s],” Associate Director of the Alvord Center Sarah Griggs said.
The GEF also allows students to attend international education programs hosted by Loomis with the cost of the trip taken care of. Students can travel globally and bring these experiences back to the Loomis community.
“Students can hold a seminar and talk about their experience or pursue a physical initiative on campus,” Ms. Griggs said.
A design workshop held on Monday, December 4th was used to fine-tune sustainability initiatives and extend proposal ideas that could enrich the community and environment. Overall, the GEF is a unique Loomis opportunity that uniquely provides students the ability to have a longstanding impact.