(Article submitted by STCC student Finley Demakis)
Hello, my name is Finley Demakis, and I am a first-year student at Springfield Technical Community College majoring in Biology Transfer. My experience at STCC over this past year has been nothing short of wonderful in all aspects. I have made many friends, expanded my horizons, and learned so much about the natural sciences. Being part of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honors Society has especially played a huge role in enriching my campus experience, not only as a student, but also as a young scientist. PTK has given me opportunities to lead, learn, and serve my community.
On April 15, 2026, PTK hosted the annual STCC Sustainathon, an Earth Day event that seeks to educate people about anthropogenic environmental degradation and explore how industrial society can become more sustainable, environmentally responsible, and committed to restoring damaged ecosystems. I was fortunate enough to play a heavily involved role in hosting this function. My mother and I helped set up the event. We were able to adorn the entire gymnasium with earth-themed décor, such as green and blue balloons, real plants, flowers, and other colorful and lively decorations. Seeing the gym transform into a space filled with life, color, and purpose made me feel that we were preparing for something truly meaningful and enriching.
During the event, I presented my research poster on harnessing algae for carbon sequestration and sustainable biofuel production. This helped me explore how biological innovation can contribute to reducing carbon emissions and creating cleaner energy solutions. I learned a lot about scientific methodology and the biological applications of genetic engineering. It also helped me connect my classroom learning to real-world environmental solutions, especially the urgent need to address climate change through science, innovation, and sustainability. More importantly, it confirmed my ultimate career goal: to work in the environmental science field, focusing on sustainability endeavors and ecosystem restoration.
The day of Sustainathon was a wild success. Many high school districts brought students to participate. Thirty-two guest presenters covered different facets of environmental conservation, including biodiversity, clean energy, regenerative agriculture, drones and robotics for sustainability, green buildings, watershed management, and more. Each booth displayed a field of study in an interactive and engaging manner. The presenters were so knowledgeable, and their research was utterly brilliant. My favorite presentation was UMass Professor Jun Yao’s fascinating research on generating electricity from air, showing how the movement of water molecules through tiny nanopores can help create a new source of clean energy.
Another encounter that was especially significant to me was seeing my environmental science teacher from Agawam High School. She was the first person who helped spark my curiosity for earth sciences, and it was such a privilege to show her what I accomplished in my first year at STCC. That moment felt full circle for me. It reminded me how teachers can shape a student’s future in a powerful way.
Sustainathon was more than just an Earth Day celebration. It was a purposely crafted gathering interwoven with amazing people, meaningful learning, deep inspiration, and a shared passion for environmental conservation. It showed me that environmental sustainability is a united human responsibility. I will forever be grateful that I was able to be so involved in this function, as it was yet another facet of STCC that has augmented my entire life perspective and personal knowledge. This experience strengthened my commitment to environmental science and reminded me that the work we do today can help restore ecosystems, inspire communities, and protect the future of our planet.
