By Evelina Ruzanova
Austin Community College is a great place to expand your social circle and make meaningful contributions. It offers a wide variety of organizations and clubs to suit almost any interest, providing flexibility and opportunities for like-minded students to learn, connect, and build lasting friendships.
On ACC’s Student Life website, students can find volunteer opportunities, new clubs, influential organizations, and more. The Sustainability Club at ACC focuses on environmental sustainability and raising awareness of how we treat our planet. Most members of the Sustainability Club are also part of ACC’s Green Team, which provides volunteering opportunities for students that have to do with cleanups, planting, and more.
The importance of this club lies in its mission to address the growing environmental challenges our planet faces. As time goes on, pollution increases, and climate change continues to accelerate, often in ways that go unnoticed until the effects become severe. Even if only a small group of people take action, their efforts still contribute to meaningful change. Every step toward sustainability, whether through awareness, advocacy, or direct action, helps create a ripple effect, inspiring others to do the same and ultimately making a larger impact on the environment.
According to Austin Wells, a leading member of the Sustainability Club at Austin Community College, the group is deeply committed to promoting environmental action on campus through hands-on projects and meaningful partnerships. “Right now, our primary focus is maintaining and expanding the community garden at Highland, as well as organizing campus and community cleanups in partnership with the SGA Environmental Committee,” Wells shared. The club also collaborates closely with the Service-Learning program to connect students with sustainability-centered volunteer opportunities. Among their proudest accomplishments are the revitalization of the Highland community garden, a notable increase in student participation during cleanups, and growing collaborations with both ACC departments and local organizations. Still, challenges remain, particularly in maintaining long-term student engagement and securing resources for their initiatives. Looking ahead, Wells envisions “a thriving, self-sustaining community garden, more eco-friendly infrastructure on campus, and stronger student involvement in sustainability efforts.” For students interested in making a difference, Wells encourages getting involved in tangible projects: “Sustainability is about consistent action, and even small efforts can contribute to meaningful change.
