Lauren J. Trapani
Old Orchard Beach, ME
Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability - Sustainability and Business
School of Environment and Natural Resources
2020 Distinguished Senior Award Celebration Program (.pdf)
2020 Distinguished Senior Award Recipient Showcase Poster (.pdf)
Lauren Trapani shares that her greatest sense of accomplishment during her undergraduate program stemmed from applying her education to practical, real-world problems. During her program’s capstone course, she had the opportunity to work with the John Glenn Columbus International Airport to develop an energy efficiency proposal, which was presented to the airport’s board of directors. In a similarly impactful experience with the Sustainability Industry Immersion program, she led a team to recommend opportunities for engineered carbon capture and carbon markets for a Chicago-based renewable energy company.
Lauren secured three internships during her time at The Ohio State University, all of which reflected and refined her interests in sustainability and business: a year-long position in corporate social responsibility with Vetta Brands in Columbus, Ohio; a sustainability and public affairs internship with L.L.Bean located in Freeport, Maine; and a farm intern position with Procter Center Farm in London, Ohio. Through her internships, she gained experience in communications at a global level, sustainability issues impacting the world, production agriculture, and urban farming.
In collaboration with three other undergraduate students, Lauren conducted an impressive research project on ecotourism in Guatemala. She presented results at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Research Forum. Upon completion of that project, she assisted then PhD-candidate Corinne Bocci on her dissertation research, which focused on sustainably grown Ramon nuts by women’s farmer collectives in rural Guatemala.
Serving as a Student Instructional Assistant allowed Lauren to help other students with their projects over the course of a semester. She found that helping students make connections between their interests and relevant, crucial sustainability topics was extremely rewarding, and she enjoyed serving as a resource and guide to newer SIAs in the class.
Lauren lists her four-year involvement with Net Impact OSU, a non-profit organization that partners with businesses on real-world sustainability initiatives, as her most valuable learning experience while at OSU. She has served in many roles with the OSU chapter, such as VP of National Programming, VP of Education, and Carbon Accounting project lead, in addition to contributing to the chapter’s meetings, projects, and events. As someone who values service, Lauren also gave back to her home community in Maine and the local Columbus community through volunteer work at the Saco Meals Soup Kitchen, the Linden Miracle Garden, CFAES Experience OSU for a Day, and the OSU English Conversation Program.
Lauren has received the following academic honors, grants, and scholarships: Dean’s List | Newcomb Scholar | Office of Environment and Energy Sustainability Scholarship | Office of International Affairs Grant | Outdoor Writers of Ohio Scholarship | Undergraduate Student Government Academic Enrichment Grant.
Lauren is exploring a career in energy, land/ecology preservation, or corporate sustainability. After experience in the workforce, she plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration degree.
Lauren identified Dr. Brian Lower and Ms. Ella Weaver as her mentors, with whom she worked closely as a Student Instructional Assistant for seven semesters. She fostered a close relationship with these two role models in her field and says she cannot imagine her undergraduate experience without their consistent support.