Student's passion for nature leads to activism

Standing in his front yard, Adam Meyer looked on as the silver

wrapper of the strawberry Pop-Tarts he’d just eaten floated away.

This seemingly insignificant act of littering was the moment when Meyer, 6 years old and consumed with guilt for his action, said it would never happen again.

Not only has Meyer not littered since then, but he has also become a young environmental activist.

He is a recipient of the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship and a sophomore environmental science major at UNC.

And as co-coordinator of UNC’s sustainability living-learning community, Meyer has been one of the principle organizers of environmental activism at UNC and in the community.

While he said the learning community itself is more an “academic approach,” he has practically applied his passion through his leadership for the group’s year-long work with HOPE Gardens, a community garden north of campus that also provides a transitional employment program for the homeless.

For Meyer, saving trees, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and improving water and air quality began with a simple childhood enthusiasm for nature.

“I always felt a connection to the environment and being outdoors,” he said. “My parents used to have to pull me inside, kicking and screaming.”

Enthusiasm became activism.

So while other 11-year-olds were playing video games, riding their bikes and watching TV, Meyer was taking water-quality tests and calling the N.C. Department of Transportation with his environmental concerns.

In addition to being president of his high school’s environmental club, Meyer won a prestigious International Young Eco-Hero Award for activists by the time he was 15 and just a sophomore.

The award was in recognition of $8,000 he raised for local, state and nonprofit environmental groups. He made the money by selling homemade calendars and note cards with images from the outdoors.

While he could have been brushed off as the typical over-achiever, Meyer was well-liked by his classmates.

“Adam was always so humble,” said high school and UNC classmate Ali Parascandola. “His accomplishments never made you feel bad. He made you want to work harder.”

After completing his first year at UNC, Meyer traveled to Costa Rica with the goal of building compost bins for coffee pulp. But officials with the Morehead-Cain Foundation said Meyer should dedicate more of his service working directly with the people. He would go on to teach English to poor Costa Rican youth instead.

The trip’s fundamental purpose changed course, and in the process, changed his life.

“I realized I wasn’t just helping them,” he said. “They were helping me.”

But beyond the bonds formed, the trip had a tangible impact on Meyer’s future goals.

“When I was in Costa Rica, it really broadened my perspective, and I realized city planning combines my interests: people and the environment,” Meyer said.

His interest in city planning will soon become an integral part of his role as an environmental leader at UNC. Meyer will lead student government’s capital projects committee next year as it examines the environmental impact of various campus projects such as the South Road bridge plan and the Wendy’s in the Student Union.

Meyer’s commitment since that first heinous act of littering has proven that even former litterbugs can change dramatically.

“He’s very articulate but very thoughtful, and that’s going to make him a phenomenal planner one day,” said Rachel Willis, one of Meyer’s professors.



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.