Regional Student Environmental Conference Schedule 2026

Monday Sept 28, 2026

@ Manchester University - 604 E College Ave, North Manchester, IN

9am A.m. ET Registration

9:15 A.M. ET Conference Kick Off

Location: Jo Young Switzer Center

9:45 A.M. ET Sessions to Inspire - Student Led Presentations

Location: Jo Young Switzer Center

Presenters - Sessions to Inspire

• Emily Gough, Sponsor, Warsaw High School Environmental Club, Instagram: @wchsenvironmental

• Cooper Scroggin, Student Plastics Reduction Alliance, Valparaiso University,

  • Website: https://www.plasticreductionalliance.org/,

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plasticreductionalliance/,

  • Instagram: @plasticreductionalliance

• Youth Environmental Club of Northeast Indiana (YECNI), Trent George, Instagram: @yec.northeast.indiana

• Elaina Gibson, Sadie Sonafrank, Tyler Moore, City of Kokomo’s Mayor’s Youth Council

• Tera Gotschall, IU ERI & IU Kokomo

• Greta Ludwig, Manchester University, Instagram: @muenvironmental

11:00 A.M. Keynote Presentation:

“How to Sell the World” with Brandon Reynolds, founder of the B the Keeper

Location: Cordier Auditorium

12:00 P.M. Lunch

Location: Jo Young Switzer Center

1:00 P.M. Sessions to Activate: Subject Matter Expert Roundtables

Location: Jo Young Switzer Center

Subject Matter Experts - Sessions to Activate

• David Van Gilder, Senior Policy and Legal Director, Hoosier Environmental Council.

  Topic: Advocacy for Your Planet and the People You Love

  Title: You Have the Power!

  Website: https://www.hecweb.org/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hecweb/

  Instagram: @hoosierenvcouncil

• Gowri Somasundaram, Earth Charter Indiana, Indiana Composting Council

  Topic: Implementing Institutional Composting

  Title: https://indianacompost.org/

  John Brittenham, Blue Heron Ministries

  Topic: Pollinator gardens

  Website: www.blueheronministries.org

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueHeronMinistries

• Tera Gotschall, IU Kokomo

  Topic: Environmental jobs

  Dugan Julian, Regional Specialist, SICIM

  Topic: Invasives management

  Website: https://sicim.info/

• Christina Davis, Plastics Reduction Alliance, Valparaiso University

  Topic: Recycling and plastics reduction

  Website: https://www.plasticreductionalliance.org/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plasticreductionalliance/

  Instagram: @plasticreductionalliance

• Joyfield Farm 

  Topic: Zero Carbon Living & Local food options

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Joyfield-Farm/61577714042690/

• Brandon Reynolds, Founder, B the Keeper

  Topic: Campus beekeeping

  Website: www.bthekeeper.co

2:00 P.M. Optional-

Manchester Campus Tour -or-

Hands-On Invasive Species Workshop

with Dugan Julian, SICIM

3:00 P.M. Conference Conclusion and Departure

Tablers:

Manchester University

The Watership Foundation

Earth Charter Indiana

Warsaw Community High School

Brethren Volunteer Service

Presented by Earth Charter Indiana & Manchester University’s Center for Environmental and Social Resilience and Social Engagement

SEC is possible because of our generous Sponsors, to whom we are immensely grateful:

Conference Sponsors

Manchester University’s Center for Environmental and Social Resilience and Social Engagement

McKinney Family Foundation

Indiana University Environmental Resiliency Institute

Sierra Club

Bluestar Wealth Advisory of Raymond James

Solar United Neighbors

Faith in Place

Cummins

MKM Architecture + Design

The Huntington Bicycle Shop