L-R: Francin Espiritu, Adil Ali and Valeria Simonetti
L-R: Francin Espiritu, Adil Ali and Valeria Simonetti

Everyone has seen a sign “Adopt a Highway” where volunteers clean up the trash along the road. Along the same idea, LEAD Scholars have volunteered to clean up but for something different, “Adopt A Pond.”This initiative was created during the fall semester 2013. Its original members (Rungrote Athajarusith, Wessley Dennis, Kenzhane Pantin, and Christian Vazquez) had a great desire to not only help the environment but encourage involvement and heighten awareness. Currently, the group has created a sign which does just that. The pond is located in the UCF Arboretum.

Also, as the project grows, more and more LEAD Scholars are coming out to clean the pond every two weeks to recycle, dispose of trash, and spread the message of environmental activism. The LEAD Scholars clean up helps improve the water quality as well as the wildlife habitat.