Introducing Alumni Profiles! | Alumni Profile: Victoria Bartoszewicz


Welcome to the first post in a new Sustainable Summer series, Alumni Profiles!

We are incredibly proud of the Sustainable Summer community. Folks who join us on program are passionate, intelligent, creative individuals, and are the true reason why the Sustainable Summer experience is so impactful. After the program ends, and the summer is over, students and staff continue on to do incredible things as environmental leaders. I’ve been collecting stories from alumni for the past few months, and am so ready to start introducing you to them! Get inspired, stay connected, and enjoy hearing from past Sustainable Summer students.

Alumni Profile: Victoria Bartoszewicz

Leadership Academy: Entrepreneurship and the Environment– Dartmouth 2016

Leadership Expedition: Seeds of Change– Ecuador 2017

UC Berkeley, 2022

What was the most memorable or impactful part of your Sustainable Summer experience?

One of the best parts of my experience was the lifelong friends I’ve made. We still keep in touch and support each other in our efforts as change makers. They inspire me everyday. 

What have you been up to since your Sustainable Summer? Where are you now?

After my program at Dartmouth, I started a citywide, high school sustainability group with another participant. Our goal was to equip students with resources to create change in their school communities. Some of our projects included energy audits, reuse events, and educational symposiums. Now in college, I facilitate a student-led class on sustainable urbanism and hold an internship with a building sustainability team on campus. I am also really excited about teaching a sustainability solutions course next fall. 

How do you apply your experience to your life now?

When people ask me how I got interested in environmental sustainability, I can never pinpoint one moment, but I know Sustainable Summer was definitely a catalyst for me to become who I am today. My experience inspired me to always stay curious and driven, and learn outside of the classroom. Learning about sustainability is not as meaningful if we do not go out and get our hands in the soil, our feet in the sand, or our voices out to other people. Whether it is community gardening, working for a local food cooperative, or volunteering to plant trees, I push myself to get involved and invite others into the conversation. 

What’s next for you?

I am studying sustainable design and sustainable development because I want to help implement solutions that improve people’s lives and are truly good- not just ‘less bad’- for the Earth. I’m specifically interested in working on cities since they hold huge opportunities for creating circular economies and regenerative communities, ultimately allowing humans to thrive within the planet’s ecological boundaries. 

Any advice for students considering Sustainable Summer programs?

If you’re considering a Sustainable Summer program, don’t let anything hold you back! Get ready to grow and see environmental sustainability in a new light. It’s an experience you’ll remember for years to come!

Thanks Victoria!

We’ll continue sharing stories from alumni over the next few months. If you are a past student of Sustainable Summer, and would like to be featured here, please contact joanna@sustainablesummer.org!