The project is funded through the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Sustainability Grants Program, which awards up to $2,500 annually to initiatives that advance campus sustainability. In Fall 2024, mechanical engineering graduate student Colby Martinez received the grant for his proposal. Martinez, who leads the project, worked with Benjamin Anderson, an undergraduate mechanical engineering student, and Martin McCorkle, an undergraduate computer engineering student, to bring the concept to life.

鈥淭his project represents what鈥檚 possible when students are given the opportunity to turn their ideas into a reality,鈥� the team shared. 鈥淭he solar charging stations are more than just outlet locations; they’re a reminder that sustainability can be practical, accessible, and integrated into everyday life.鈥�

The idea for solar panel umbrellas came from the team’s campus experience. They saw students gather outside between classes to work or visit, but struggled to find shaded spots with power for their devices. By upgrading seating areas with shade and built-in solar charging, the project helps students stay comfortable and connected while integrating clean energy into daily campus life.

Turning the idea into a real, usable system took careful planning and teamwork with campus partners. Each station collects sunlight with solar panels, stores the energy in batteries, and converts it into standard wall-outlet power for students to use outdoors. The team managed budgeting, materials, and installation challenges to ensure the stations are built to last and are safe for everyone.

Beyond improving campus spaces, the project gave the team valuable real-world experience. Managing a large project required cross-departmental and cross-facility communication, adapting to delays, and balancing technical design with practical constraints.

鈥淭his project helped me learn more about renewable energy technology while also providing a way to strengthen my technical abilities through professional practice. It involved balancing structural analysis, fabrication, electrical integration, procurement timelines, and coordination across departments. Developing the system from concept to installation showed that engineering requires both technical precision and responsible decision-making,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淭hat perspective will shape how I approach projects throughout my career.鈥� 

By taking the lead on sustainability efforts, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students are helping to reshape campus life and set an example for others. Learn more about the sustainability committee at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Their work demonstrates that practical solutions can support the campus community and the environment while equipping students with skills that last long after graduation. 

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The six-film series runs through April and will feature guest speakers at each screening. Each film will be shown at 1 p.m. in Room 205G of the Donaghey Student Center.

The festival is free and open to the university community and the public, with snacks and drinks available.

Dr. Elizabeth Sotelo, an assistant professor of Spanish at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, said the series reflects two central components of the university鈥檚 mission: to foster humane empathy among students and to empower them to utilize knowledge to contribute to society.

鈥淭his is precisely the foundation of the film series’ purpose,” she said. “To better understand the relevance of sustainable practices, we must become more knowledgeable about what is occurring in different parts of the world.”

Sotelo said each of the selected films communicates realities where nature and humanity are interconnected and impacted.

“The goal is to encourage comprehension and reflection on the effects and transcendence of our footprints in different spaces,” she said. “Furthermore, through conversations with our guest speakers, we will discuss the complexities of the films and articulate actionable steps that can be taken.鈥�

Below is the schedule for the film festival: 

Event 1: February 13, 2026

Theme: Extractivism in South America

Film: Chevron vs. The Amazon (2016) by Abby Martin

Guest Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Sotelo (University of Arkansas at Little Rock)

Event 2: February 27, 2026

Theme: Extractivism in South America

Film: When Two Worlds Collide (2016) by Mathew Orzel and Heidi Brandenburg

Guest Speaker: Dr. Meloddye Carpio Rios (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

Event 3: March 13, 2026 

Theme: Environmental justice in Central America

Film: Berta Didn’t Die, She Multiplied!  (2017) by Sam Vinal

Guest Speaker: Dr. Rex Wilkins (University of Arkansas at Little Rock)

Event 4: April 3, 2026 

Theme: Environmental justice in Central America

Film: Treasure of the Caribbean (2023) by Ana Salceda

Guest Speaker: Dr. Cornesha Tweede (Arizona State University)

Event 5: April 17, 2026 

Theme: Crisis and impact in North America

Film: El tren y la pen铆nsula (2023) by Sky Richards & Andreas Kruger Foncerrada

Guest Speaker: Dr. Bri Romanello (University of Arkansas)

Event 6: April 22, 2026

Theme: Crisis and impact in North America

Film: The Gods of Mexico (2022) by Helmut Dosantos

Guest Speaker: Dr. Romy Cer贸n Canch茅 (Texas State University) 

Dr. Rex Wilkins, a visiting assistant professor of Spanish at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, said the film series also supports a broader goal of strengthening connections between the university and the local community 鈥� students, friends, and neighbors alike.

鈥淲atching films together and talking about them is one of the best ways to build bridges of understanding between nations, cultures, and people,” he said. “Learning, like so many other things in life, has a social component.”

Organizers hope to reinforce the idea that in-person conversations can foster greater understanding, respect, and care in an increasingly divided world,” Dr. Wilkins added.

“We invite all of Little Rock to come and experience that for themselves by attending this film series,” he said. “We hope this will become an annual film series centering on other Latin American issues such as immigration and family life.”

For more information, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Sotelo at esotelo1@ualr.edu or Dr. Rex Wilkins at rrwilkins1@ualr.edu.

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Morgan Leyenberger, instructor of social work, used the grant to purchase a GEME electric composter, a high-tech, microbiotic system that converts food waste into usable compost within hours.

Installed in Ross Hall during the spring 2025 semester, the composter has quickly become a centerpiece for faculty, staff, and students in the School of Social Work who are committed to reducing waste. The system, which uses aeration and beneficial fungi to break down food, produces nutrient-rich compost used in gardens and office plants.

Leyenberger said the idea stemmed from the School of Social Work鈥檚 culture of community. Faculty, staff, and students regularly share meals on campus, creating an opportunity to reduce waste while modeling sustainability in everyday practice. With support from Phi Alpha, the social work honor society, students helped research the equipment, host composting workshops, and create educational materials encouraging their peers to participate. The students have enthusiastically named the composter, Com-Post Malone.

Faculty members have enthusiastically adopted the new system. Dr. Theresa Flowers, assistant professor of social work, uses compost from the unit in her backyard garden, where she grows vegetables and herbs with her young daughter.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a fun process,鈥� Flowers said. 鈥淭he composter actually smells nice, and it鈥檚 kept me from having to figure out how to compost at home. It鈥檚 made sustainability simple.鈥�

The department estimates that between 20 faculty and staff members and 100 on-campus students regularly use the composter. Together, they鈥檝e produced around 20 gallons of compost since the composter was installed in the spring, diverting food scraps that would otherwise contribute to methane emissions in landfills.

The project has also inspired students to think more critically about their own environmental impact and the role they can play in building a more sustainable community.

Olivia Garderner, a Master of Social Work student, said the initiative aligns with the values of service and social responsibility that are central to her field.

鈥淚 was excited to see our department take on a project that shows how small actions can make a big difference,鈥� Garderner said. 鈥淐omposting may seem simple, but it鈥檚 a tangible way to reduce waste and take care of our planet. It makes sustainability feel personal and achievable.鈥�

For Leyenberger, the project represents both environmental and educational impact.

鈥淲hen we divert food waste from the trash, we鈥檙e reducing greenhouse gases and giving back to the Earth through our gardens,鈥� Leyenberger said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a simple, tangible way for students and faculty to engage in sustainability.鈥�

The initiative is part of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Sustainability Grants Program, which funds up to $2,500 for projects focused on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable campus operations. Dr. Kyungsun Lee, assistant professor of geography and chair of the sustainability grant committee, said Leyenberger鈥檚 project exemplifies the program鈥檚 goals.

鈥淢organ鈥檚 project is a great example of how small, thoughtful actions can make a lasting impact,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring to see the School of Social Work build sustainability into its daily routine.鈥�

Leyenberger has invited the campus community to contact her at mleyenberger@ualr.edu if they are interested in using the composter.

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