With Earth Day (April 22) approaching, this month we are recognizing FAITH Scholars who are doing their part to secure a sustainable future by pursuing careers and innovatively addressing issues in renewable energy, plant conservation, protecting endangered habitats and promoting food security.
We are pleased to highlight the following young people who are making a positive change and ensuring a better and brighter world for us all.
William Cumbelich, FAITH Scholar '19
Genetics & Plant Biology, University of California, Berkeley
As president of the Food Science and Technology Club, William hosts panels and workshops with food tech companies such as MelBio – the first company to make cellular-produced honey. Over the summer, he interned at the alternative protein company, The Better Meat Co, researching ingredients in plant-based protein. Prior, he was the research assistant at the USDA/UC Berkeley Plant Gene Expression Center, exploring phenotypic leaf structure mutations, and interned at St. Basil’s Academy in New York, mentoring students and maintaining the sustainability garden. William aspires to drive more sustainable solutions in the agricultural industry.
Chrysanthe Frangos, FAITH Scholar ‘21
Earth Systems, Stanford University
Chrysanthe interned with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to monitor the declining population of burrowing owls, worked with the University of San Diego’s Department of Environmental and Ocean Science to study the critically endangered ecosystem and studied urban parrot and parakeet populations with the Biology Department. She founded Happy Habitats, a virtual program teaching third-graders how to care for the earth through a series of videos and activities and educated visitors about the San Diego Zoo’s conservatism efforts as a Zoo Corps lead team member. She taught middle school science classes, volunteered at the nature center, organized park clean-ups and advocates for eco-friendly practices on campus as Green Team president. She aspires to obtain a PhD in envrionmental science.
Dimitri Orfanos, FAITH Scholar ‘19
Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University
Interested in sustainability design, Dimitri joined a project researching Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion technology and its potential applications in Hawaii. Over the summer he interned at the Teagasc Agricultural Research Center in Carlow, Ireland where he prepared and observed 50 barley samples to be tested for yield and crop health, tracked aphid population health and catalogued crossbred potato flowers to produce hybrid potatoes. Dimitri is active in the American Society of Chemical Engineers and writes for the Northeastern University Science Magazine. He is currently interning at a renewable energy startup.
Mary Catherine Touloupis, FAITH Scholar ‘21
Fashion and Design, Drexel University
Mary Catherine and her brothers, John (FAITH Scholar ‘16) and Alexios Touloupis (FAITH Scholar ‘17) travel across the U.S. and Greece highlighting sustainable businesses and technology with Green New World, an organization they founded to encourage eco-friendly practices. Her role in the organization focuses on the importance of sustainable fashion; for example, she collaborated with a business in Athens that recycles plastic bags into purses and rugs. Mary Catherine aspires to use her knowledge to advocate for sustainable practices within the fashion and design industry. Her other work includes helping build green housing and founding a club that designs bracelets for children at the Ronald McDonald House.
George Tsakalakos, FAITH Scholar ‘19
Physics, Emory University
As a summer intern for General Electric's Renewable Energy division, George studied the mechanics of the power grid and the components of electric substations. Back on campus, he serves as president of the Oxford Business Club, is lead philanthropic fundraiser for a business fraternity and served as a consultant to improve vaccine clinic efficiency. He aspires to work in management in the industrial science industry.
Diamanda Zizis, FAITH Scholar ‘19
Biology, Bucknell University
As a Presidential Fellow in the biology lab, Diamanda developed a hybrid study involving the propagation of 50 individual plants. She was granted a Summer Research Fellowship to search and change the conservation status of a rare plant species in Pennsylvania. She was invited to present her research at symposiums across and country and received the Student Research Award from the Botanical Society of America. As president of Bucknell’s Botanical Club, she introduces native plants on campus, and as a member of the Environmental Residential College program, she mentors underclassmen interested in environmentalism. Diamanda is pursuing a PhD in botany.