Celeste Cruz / Vaquero Radio.
The Environmental Awareness Club (EAC) is an organization where students engage in community service projects and learn about sustainability, working to create a campus friendly environment.
President of the EAC Apolonio Flores explained what the club focuses on.
“Environmental Awareness Club focuses on bringing in attention to various environmental issues in the Valley,” Flores said. “And just taking a strong sense of pride over local ecosystems and making sure students are aware in regards to environmental justice within our region.”
He listed some locations the organization has visited.
“So, mainly trips have been, like, central within the Valley, so places like Resaca De La Palma in Brownsville and, you know, Sal del Rey here in Edinburg,” Flores said. “Just trying to educate about the local ecosystems within our region.”
Member of the EAC and Director of the Farmers Market at UTRGV Sophia Martinez mentioned which locations she enjoyed visiting the most.
“One time, we went to Lost Maples and Enchanted Rock as the EAC back in 2019 and Big Bend,” Martinez said. “Those are my top two.”
EAC hosts the farmers market on campus. Martinez shared the goals the farmers market aims to achieve.
“Our main goal for that is to provide fresh veggies,” she said. “If not possible fresh, at least veggies for students to have, so they can just go to school and be like, ‘Oh, veggies’ and they buy them. We want that connection and so that’s why the farmers market exists, but that actually is the main form of fundraising.”
Member of the EAC Anjolina Negrete said how she got involved in the organization and how much impact it had on her.
“I walked in and I was, like, wow everyone wants to be like something, something that has to do with the environment, care about everyone,” Negrete said. “ And I was like, this is where I feel like I belong and I just took so much inspiration and how much they opened me up to really enjoy where I’m from and just acknowledge everything that goes on around this campus.”
To learn more about the Environmental Awareness Club, visit its Instagram @eac_rgv or VLink.
This is Celeste Cruz for Vaquero Radio.
