Our student leaders took action in 47 states and Washington DC, this past year to protect the environment, alleviate poverty, make textbooks more affordable, and get their peers engaged in elections. Students on 350 college campuses and high schools took more than 42,000 actions on our campaigns, from signing a petition to organizing a service event in their community. We trained more than 1,000 student volunteers led by 300 coordinators who took on a major leadership role. We also trained over 300 students in our Summer Activist Bootcamps. Here are some of their stories below:
Alternative Spring Break to Protect the Environment – Spring 2024
While many students spent their spring breaks partying or taking a break from the semester, PIRG students from across the east coast went to Atlanta, Georgia to support our team at Georgia State University on their campaigns to stop a proposed titanium mine near the Okefenokee Swamp and educate Georgians about how they can save money and fight climate change through the Inflation Reduction Act. Georgia PIRG President at Georgia State University Caleb Gustavson (Front Left) and the student team educated hundreds of community members about the campaign to protect the Okefenokee Swamp and held a rally at the Georgia Capitol steps to call for action.
Make Textbooks Affordable – Stop Automatic Textbook Billing
Textbooks often come with exorbitant prices that strain students’ budgets. Our Affordable Textbooks campaign works to alleviate these burdens by pushing for more options for students including free open textbooks and other resources. Over the last several years, we have been tackling the issue of automatic textbook billing, or “inclusive access” programs that automatically bills students for the cost of their course materials unless they opt out.
Julia Trachtman, student leader with our PennPIRG Students club at the University of Pennsylvania, helped raise awareness about this issue by educating fellow students, faculty, and administrators on her campus. She also got an opinion editorial published in the Pittsburgh Gazette.
“Inclusive access” would be more inclusive if students could choose whether or not they want to buy a textbook instead of automatically being billed.” – Julia Trachtman, PennPIRG Students
Student leaders like Julia worked across the country calling attention to this issue by directly educating their campus stakeholders and other decision-makers, and releasing resources like the latest Student PIRGs report: Automatic Textbook Billing: Limited Choice, Uncertain Savings. In Spring 2025, Julia led a team of students from Pennsylvania to Washington D.C. where they met with decision-makers to educate them about textbook affordability.
Turning Out New Voters in Michigan – Fall 2024
PIRGIM Club President at Michigan State, Lucas Gravett (Second from Right) built a team of more than 30 student volunteers and coordinators starting from scratch. Over the course of the semester their campaign made more than 10,000 get-out-the-vote contacts with Spartans helping them register and ultimately turn out to vote. The students focused on peer-to-peer tactics to educate classmates and help them get registered to vote. They made announcements in classes, called hundreds of students in the days leading up to Election Day and hosted events like A Plan to Vote and Pet a Goat to make voting fun and engaging. Before the voter registration deadline, they connected with their peers at Lansing Community College to help students get registered to vote there.
The on-campus polling location reported a 66% turnout rate. This represents a 44 percentage point increase from the 2020 voter turnout rate (23.9%) at these same polling locations when we had a much more limited peer-to-peer presence on campus.
Creating Hunger-Free Campuses and Communities – Winter 2025
No one should have to worry about whether they will have food on their plate but the reality is that hunger and homelessness are widespread problems that affect far too many people, including students on college campuses. In North Carolina, students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have worked to address this on their campus and in the local community by donating more than a thousand basic needs items and food. NCPIRG Students Co-President, Mide Olajide coordinates the Hunger and Homelessness Campaign. This past winter they hosted an event with dozens of student volunteers who made more than 500 sandwiches they donated to the Durham Health Coalition to distribute to families in need.
Club Leadership Profiles
Abby McGuire // Club Vice President // University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Political Science // Class of 2025
Akshita Pawar // Waste is Out of Fashion Coordinator // University of Pittsburgh
Environmental Studies // Class of 2026
My name is Akshita Pawar, and I serve as the Waste is Out of Fashion Campaign Coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh. Being involved with PIRG has given me the opportunity to work to improve issues that are important to me. It has also allowed me to better understand and amplify the concerns of my peers and bring these to the government so that their voices can be heard. As the campaign coordinator for Waste is Out of Fashion, I work to educate students about sustainable fashion and contribute to the reduction of textile waste on campus. This campaign is personal to me because, like many students, I care deeply about environmental degradation, but I also love fashion; it is important to me to try to be as sustainable as possible when making decisions about the clothes that I wear, as well as holding fast fashion corporations accountable, which PIRG has allowed me the opportunity to do.
Andrea Smith // CLEAN Visibility Coordinator // Georgia State University
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics // Class of 2026
Andrea Smith is a Junior at Georgia State University majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Thanks to her parents being in the military, Andrea was able to experience the diversity of the world at a very young age. Having this knowledge of different people and environments; she was able to develop multicultural perspectives to build an understanding on how to interact with the world around her. Andrea is an ardent volunteer in various organizations like RedCross and Toys for Tots. She has now joined Georgia Student PIRG to further foster positive change and uplift her community.
Angelina Mussini // Maryland Student Climate Action Coalition (MSCAC) Coordinator // University of Maryland, College Park
Environmental Science & Policy / Political Communication // Class of 2025
Ankita Bera // Visibility Coordinator // Temple University
International Business and Management Information Systems // Class of 2028
Annalese Earley // New Voters Project Coordinator, Hunger & Homelessness Coordinator, Club Vice President // University of Pittsburgh
Politics and Philosophy, Economics // Class of 2026
My name is Annalese Earley and I am the Vice President of PennPIRG at Pitt and the Campaign Coordinator for the New Voters Project. I am involved with PIRG because I believe that there is work on the ground that must be done, and students have the most power to shape the future. Students have been at the forefront of social change throughout history and I believe this organization is a great way to get involved and do my part. Organizing is important to me because it is the best way to facilitate the change that I want to see. My campaign highlight was organizing and running the NVP campaign during this past presidential election. In such pivotal time, it was empowering to do my part in making sure all student’s voices were heard.
Anthony Bui // Waste is Out of Fashion Visibility Intern // Georgia State University
Interdisciplinary Studies & Environmental Science // Class of 2026
I joined PIRGs because I wanted to gain real-world experience tackling the issues I’m passionate about. It’s also been an incredible way to connect and collaborate with like-minded peers who share similar goals. Previously, I worked on the “CLEAN” campaign to promote the transition to renewable energy, reduce environmental impacts, and combat climate change. Currently, I’m excited to work on “Waste is Out of Fashion,” embracing sustainable alternatives to fast fashion while highlighting the creativity and joy of thrifting, upcycling, and even designing your own clothes. Organizing is essential to me because it amplifies important issues and fosters a sense of community, where everyone feels valued and empowered to make a difference. One of our proudest achievements was winning a nationwide photo petition for clean energy and climate defense, a clear testament to the passion and collective action of the students here at Georgia State University.
Arjun Manohar // Club President // University of South Florida, Tampa
Political Science // Class of 2026
Brodie Bollnow // Club Secretary // University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Global Studies and Political Science // Class of 2027
Caleb Gustavson // Club President // Georgia State University
Public Policy & Philosophy // Class of 2027
Caleb Gustavson is a second-year Public Policy and Philosophy double major at Georgia State University. Caleb founded the Georgia State chapter of Georgia PIRG. He works for PIRG because of how effective the organization structure is at winning campaigns and building student power. Caleb does not work on a specific campaign and is focused more on building organizational power for Georgia PIRG at the state and campus levels while developing the other leaders of Georgia PIRG. His highlight is running the New Voters Project in the fall of 2024 and individually contacting over 5,000 Georgia student voters with helpful election information.
Carter Cohen // Club Treasurer // University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Political Science // Class of 2027
Cierra Gutsch // Sustainability Coordinator // UNC Chapel Hill
Anthropology and Archaeology // Class of 2025
Clara Gilles // Club President // University of Pittsburgh
Political Science, Philosophy // Class of 2025
My name is Clara Gilles, and I’m a third-year student at the University of Pittsburgh, currently serving as PennPIRG at Pitt’s Club President. I’m involved with PIRG because I think it is a privilege to be able to efficiently and effectively interact with the government, and I want to serve as a connection between students on campus and our state/federal government. Through helping students learn more about resources available to them, such as SNAP benefits, rebates through the Inflation Reduction Act, and other local programs, I have been able to help students at the University of Pittsburgh which is why I continue to organize on campus.
Danielle Cora // Club Vice President // University of Central Florida
Environmental Science // Class of 2025
I am interested in conservation and species conservation. Someday, I would like to pursue a conservation-oriented career. PIRG allow me to take part in a campaign that will someday make a difference. I have enjoyed taking steps towards building a better future.
Danna Jaramillo // Club President // University of Central Florida
Environmental Science // Class of 2025
I am interested in pursuing conservation work. I want to help endangered species in any way I can. I’m involved with PIRGs because I believe I can contribute to panther conservation by taking part in the campaign to fund wildlife corridors. A highlight of this campaign has been meeting people who care about the earth and its species as much as I do.
Dhalia Jones // Waste is Out of Fashion Visibility Coordinator // Georgia State University
My involvement with Student PIRG stems from my desire to take part in real tangible change. Finding a starting point to becoming more civically engaged can be challenging, but PIRG makes that process much easier. I am particularly passionate about sustainability in the fashion industry, which is why I work on the Waste Is Out of Fashion campaign. I, like many in my generation have participated in shopping fast fashion without fully understanding its consequences. Since learning, this has motivated me to urge both companies and consumers to shift toward more sustainable practices. Connecting with and educating people is one of the most effective ways to create real change. That’s why I believe organizing is so important—whether it involves engaging with local communities or reaching out to state representatives. A key highlight for me was witnessing the enthusiasm of so many people eager to get involved at our kick-off meeting.
Disha Kaklotar // Club Vice President // Temple University
Accounting // Class of 2028
Hi, I’m Disha Kaklotar. I am a freshman at Temple University as an Accounting major and came from the suburbs of PA. When I learned about the PIRG student organization, I knew I wanted to be involved in a movement that are an uprising issue in the current world. It is an honor to be a part of something bigger, and for a greater cause. Joining clubs that are directly involved in social outreach help me, (and possibly you!) fit in a community that values their morals and actively campaigns for the greater good, one by one we can all make a difference in the world!
Emma Knudson // University of Missouri-Columbia
Environmental Science // Class of 2026
Gloria Jeon // Save the Whales Super Volunteer // Georgia State University
Environmental Science // Class of 2027
Hello! My name is Gloria Jeon, and I’m a sophomore Environmental Science major at Georgia State University. I’m a lot more involved with Student PIRGs this semester largely because of our Save the Right Whale campaign. Conservation is something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was about five or six. I learned about the field when I watched a Wild Kratts episode for the first time, and since then the dream of being a conservationist and protecting the environment has been a huge part of who I am. Having the opportunity to advocate for such a critically endangered species like this while I’m still a student is still so surreal to me, but it’s an experience I’m taking so much joy in. I had the opportunity to make a mascot (our beloved) to kick this campaign off, which you can also see in the picture with me, and I hope to do more as the semester goes on!
Jaidyn Brown // Media Coordinator // Temple University
Management Information Systems // Class of 2025
Josh Ellison // Membership Director // University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Political Science // Class of 2026
Julia Trachtman // Funding Organizer & Business Manager // University of Pittsburgh
Psychology // Class of 2026
Julia Trachtman is a third-year student at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently, she is the PennPIRG at Pitt Business Manager and Pennsylvania State Lobby Day Coordinator. She’s in involved with PIRG to make a difference on campus, in Pennsylvania, and nationwide. Her favorite campaign is the Affordable Textbooks Campaign and enjoys educating students on campus about Open Education Resources.
Lahari Pokala // Executive Director of Campaigns and Strategy // UNC Chapel Hill
Chemistry // Class of 2027
Lasya Yalamanchili // Club Secretary // Temple University
International Business // Class of 2027
Lauren Troy // Data Analytics Coordinator // University of Pittsburgh
Applied Math // Class of 2028
My name is Lauren Troy, and I’m a first-year student at the University of Pittsburgh, currently serving as the Data Analytics Coordinator for the club. I decided to get involved with PIRG to work with a group of like-minded students who believe in the power of organizing to make change. Organizing is important because it allows student voices to be amplified. When we have a plan and take action together, we can create change in the political system. I am excited about our Hunger and Homelessness campaign and Waste is Out of Fashion campaign because I believe that there is a great opportunity to improve both the lives of people on our campus and on a national level. My favorite moment from last semester was talking to students on Election Day. Hearing why my peers decided to vote was inspiring and furthered my commitment to student political action.
Maddie Van Meter // CLEAN Coordinator // UNC Chapel Hill
Madison Clemonds // Social Media Coordinator // Temple University
Business Administration // Class of 2027
Mide Olajide // Chief Operations Officer, Hunger & Homelessness Coordinator // UNC Chapel Hill
Economics & Political Science // Class of 2027
I am involved with PIRG because I believe the most effective way for students and young people to have our voices heard politically is through collective action, and Student PIRGs is one of the most effective groups that embodies that message. One of the campaigns I am most involved with is our End Hunger and Homelessness campaign. I am happy to be a part of this initiative because it allows me to work with other students and my community as a whole to help address one of the most pressing issues of our time: food and housing insecurity. One of my favorite highlights from our campaign last semester was the successful bake sale for hurricane relief, where we raised hundreds of dollars to support victims of Hurricane Helene.
Miguel Macaso // Club Co-President // University of Maryland – College Park
Public Policy // Class of 2026
Miguel Macaso is a third-year student at the University of Maryland- College Park. Originally born in the Philippines and moving across many different states growing up, he has been exposed to a large variety of people from different backgrounds, which has inspired him to help build local community as a way to advance positive social change. During his time at MaryPIRG, he has worked on the New Voters Project for the 2024 presidential election and is currently involved in the Maryland Student Climate Action Coalition’s efforts to advance state legislation that protects local communities from harmful pollutants. Miguel believes that grassroots organizing is an impactful way for the people to demonstrate their inherent power.
Nate Atkins // CLEAN Grassroots Coordinator // Georgia State University
Geology & Mathematics // Class of 2026
Nate “ROCKDOG” Atkins is a third-year Geology and Mathematics student at Georgia State University, born and raised in Kennesaw, just thirty minutes north of Atlanta. An avid lover of nature and wildlife, they saw an opportunity with GaPIRG to make a difference for the planet by educating students and young people about the benefits of clean energy, and how they can take action to pressure those in power to reduce emissions and lead the way in building a greener planet for all. They believe bold action is necessary for preserving the Blue Dot we all call home, and that students and young people are the catalyst for that transformative change. Through a robust network of volunteer activities, educational events, and lobbying Georgia politicians, they believe that a better, cleaner tomorrow is more than possible.
Penelope Nye // Club President // University of Wisconsin – Madison
Community & Environmental Sociology, Political Science // Class of 2025
Penelope “Poppy” Nye is passionate about engaging her community around environmental issues which are often overlooked in the Midwest. I am currently the campaign coordinator for WISPIRG’s Waste is Out of Fashion Campaign and was previously the coordinator for the CLEAN Ambassador’s Network. Organizing is important to me because I want students to fight for their future rather than sitting on the sidelines as climate change progresses. It has been a privilege to connect with students that are just as passionate as I am through the Student PIRGs.
Raelyn Knowles // New Voters Project Campaign Coordinator // Southern Maine Community College
Liberal Studies – Political Science // Class of 2025
My name is Raelyn Knowles. I’m a second year student at Southern Maine Community College. I joined Student PIRG as the New Voters Project Campaign Coordinator for Maine after learning about this organization at the National Students Learn Students Vote Summit in Maryland last November. I have a passion for advocacy, policy change and ultimately see myself working somewhere in the legislature. Working with Student PIRGS for my campaign this year will essentially give the ability to educate, recruit and encourage students to learn the skills needed to be able to set and achieve goals that will be a foundation to creating a better future in any endeavor they set their minds to. I believe that student engagement is a vital part of creating strong future leaders. Last semester I worked with Maine Students Vote as the Election Engagement Fellow for SMCC and engaged with roughly 500 students. This was very insightful to see how important my role was due to the minimal knowledge and interest in participating in elections. As I continue this line of work, I am excited to see the impact I’m able to create and potential for institutionalization of Maine student voting.
Sanchita Teeka // Club President // University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Finance, Psychology // Class of 2025
Sanchita is a Senior Finance and Psychology major at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, and the former Student Trustee to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, as well as an Illinois PIRG student leader. She got involved with the Student PIRGs to empower students to bring true change to both her local community and to the broader country on issues like textbook affordability, voter registration, climate action, and more.
Savannah Lebedeker // Club President // Florida State University
Political Science // Class of 2026
Shreya Singh // Club President // Temple University
Finance, Financial Planning // Class of 2027
I am a current sophomore, double majoring in Finance and Financial Planning. I’m from Downingtown, Pennsylvania but I was born in Dayton, Ohio and have lived in multiple states. I joined PIRG in order to make my voice heard on matters that impact people’s livelihoods in significant ways and give back to the community that raised me!
Sophia Bottiglieri // Hunger & Homelessness Coordinator // University of Pittsburgh
Urban Planning // Class of 2026
My name is Sophia Bottiglieri, and I’m a third-year student at the University of Pittsburgh. I’m involved with PIRG because it provides students the opportunity to address pressing issues within our community. Currently, I serve as the co-coordinator for the Hunger and Homelessness campaign on campus. This campaign is especially important to me because it allows us to create real change, whether it’s supporting those in need on campus or extending our efforts to the broader Pittsburgh area. Through initiatives like educating students about food pantries, SNAP benefits, and renters’ rights, as well as organizing food drives and making blanket for Pittsburgh’s homeless population, PIRG empowers us to make a tangible impact. Being part of PIRG means more than just raising awareness, but it’s about fostering a culture of empathy and responsibility.
Sophia D’Alonzo // Club Co-President // University of Maryland – College Park
Environmental Science & Policy / Political Communication // Class of 2025
Sophia D’Alonzo is a senior at the University of Maryland- College Park and serves as co-president of MaryPIRG. Growing up in Ellicott City, Maryland, her experience with urban flooding drove her to study environmental policy and pursue grassroots climate action.
Sydney Greenway // Campus Relations and Coalitions Coordinator // University of Pittsburgh
Urban Planning // Class of 2025
My name is Sydney Greenway, and I’m a fourth-year student at the University of Pittsburgh. I got involved with PIRG because I am passionate about creating a better future and I wanted to make tangible change. I love working on the Affordable Textbooks campaign because I believe that paying for course materials should never be a barrier to students’ success and I have seen the impact of our campaign efforts. Organizing is important to me because students’ voices need to be at the forefront of conversations about our future. In the four years that I have been a student organizer, I have met hundreds of passionate students, run multiple campaigns, lobbied at the state and federal levels, and grown immensely as a person and a leader.
Tammy Joseph // Treasurer // Georgia State University
Biomedical Science // Class of 2026
I am a biomedical student who joined PIRG because I wanted to be more civically engaged and helped educate others on campus. Waste is out of Fashion is an important campaign to me because of my interest in fashion and because the environmental consequences of fast fashion are an impending problem in our society. I want to be a part of the generation that brings awareness to this issue and inspires others to take a stand for what they believe in. Organizing has given me the skills and knowledge to make that impact. Recently Georgia PIRG’s Kickoff attracted 91 people who were mostly interested in the Waste is Out of Fashion campaign. Through this, volunteers, interns, and student organization collaborators helped host an awesome and free thrift swap on campus, where we got 224 petition signatures from students in three hours. A record for any campaign event!
Tyshana Tatum // Visibility Coordinator, Hunger & Homelessness Coordinator // UNC Chapel Hill
Economics, Management & Society // Class of 2026
Hi, I’m Tyshana, a junior at UNC and this year’s Hunger & Homelessness Co-Coordinator and Visibility Chair! I enjoy being a part of PIRG because of its student-led advocacy and service which has allowed me to help my community, both locally and nationally, in many ways. Initially, I became involved because of my love for volunteering and organizing. Providing stable housing and a secure, nourishing food source is the foundation to ensuring that we all thrive and prosper; this is why I joined H&H! Since I’ve been a core member and coordinator, we’ve been able to help so many people, from petitioning for the Meal Swipe Donation Program on our campus to packing food to give to those in need. I appreciate everything that I’ve learned through PIRG and haven’t looked back since I began!
Vivian Greenwood // Lobbying and Visibility Coordinator // University of Pittsburgh
Public Health // Class of 2026
My name is Vivian Greenwood, and I am a second-year public health major at the University of Pittsburgh. I’ve been with PIRG since the fall of my freshman year and currently serve as online visibility chair. I’m involved with PIRG because what we’re doing manifests in tangible impact for those around us, our peers. Working within my online visibility role has given me a chance to become deeply familiar with each campaign we’ve run, crafting social media campaigns to fit each issue. Organizing is important to me because this is how change is made. As I mentioned, the actions we take have an impact that I’m able to see in real time. A highlight for PennPIRG at Pitt that I always go back to would definitely have to be the events we hosted to raise awareness about Allegheny County Early Voting Days. The turnout we saw was unprecedented, and this opportunity allowed me to branch out into sticker and poster design. It was a great experience to connect with students about an amazing local opportunity to make their voice heard!
Xochitl Corona // Save the Whales Visibility Coordinator // Georgia State University
Environmental Science // Class of 2026
I got involved with PIRG in the first semester of my sophomore year in college. I really resonated with the activism that they were fighting for. I care for my campaign because it is either things that we need to fix in our lives that we are tired of or to advocate for others and our future to be better. Organizing is important because it helps to get together with likeminded people to have a structure of what we are doing, why we are doing, and how we are doing in our activism. It takes more than one person to achieve big goals. I have met so many amazing people in my org and seen what we can do to change our futures to be better.