An Ipswich Student’s Path Toward a Sustainable Future
When Charlie Quimby thinks back on where his interest in sustainability began, he remembers the emphasis on farm-to-table and environmental responsibility as a member of the Green Team at Winthrop Elementary School. As a student, he experienced firsthand the magic of planting something in the ground, watching it grow, and eventually eating the food it produced.
His interest in sustainability grew throughout his time in the Ipswich Public Schools through involvement in school gardens, leadership roles in clubs, and by teachers who made learning about the environment hands-on and meaningful. The Ipswich Education Foundation’s Sustainability Scholarship helped Charlie take the next step in that journey.
Today, Charlie is a student at Fordham University, majoring in Finance with a focus on environmental sustainability. His goal is to help organizations understand what sustainability and carbon neutrality look like in practice.
He’s thankful for his experiences in the Ipswich school system, which helped get him to where he is today.
In middle school, he enjoyed Mrs. Senecal’s science class, which focused on the school garden, and he joined the Green Team. In high school, the extracurricular opportunities, teachers, and classes, such as Mrs. Barclay’s Marine and Coastal Science and AP Environmental Science, played a major role in shaping his interests and encouraging him to stay involved.
“The Ipswich school system did a great job supporting my interest in sustainability. The extracurricular opportunities gave me real ways to get involved, and environmental classes were especially impactful,”
Charlie thrived in the Environmental Club, which he joined as a freshman. In his sophomore year, when he got more involved, Mrs. LaFrance recommended that he apply for the Massachusetts Youth Climate Council, which gave him the opportunity to work with state staff and lawmakers to share a student perspective on climate issues. During his senior year, he became an officer of the Environmental Club and, as part of that role, helped plan a rain garden in front of the Dolan Performing Arts Center, which was approved by the School Committee.
The Ipswich Education Foundation’s Sustainability Scholarship exists for students like Charlie whose interests are shaped by hands-on learning, inspired by committed teachers, and driven by a desire to make a difference beyond themselves. You can support other students inspired by sustainability. DONATE TODAY
Your generosity to the Ipswich Education Foundation helps nurture the next generation of environmental leaders in Ipswich.
