App State Students Learn Climate Superpowers from Planet Courage

College students just learned they might already have climate superpowers, and they don't need a science degree to use them.

Appalachian State University welcomed Planet Courage to campus this week for a celebration of everyday people making real environmental progress. Matt Scott and Eric Douds delivered a clear message: every person has unique skills that can contribute to solving climate change.

Scott, who directs storytelling for Project Drawdown, explained that fighting climate change isn't just for scientists. Project Drawdown has documented over 100 proven climate solutions, and each one needs different talents to succeed.

"So there's a lot of possibility for positive climate action, and each one of us holds a lot of possibility to contribute," said Laura England, director of Academic Sustainability Initiatives at App State.

The event featured short documentary episodes highlighting Boone organizations already making a difference. Students watched films about Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, App State's Renewable Energy Initiative, and MountainTrue, all led by current students and alumni.

The Ripple Effect

Planet Courage's approach shows how local action creates waves of change. By filming everyday people in their communities, the organization proves you don't need to be an expert or activist to matter.

Sarah Sandreuter, a staff member featured in the Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture documentary, stood with other organization members for a standing ovation. "There's so many people doing awesome work around here," she said after watching her story come to life on screen.

The films demonstrated how different skills contribute to climate solutions. Some students work in agriculture, others in renewable energy policy, and still others in community organizing.

Kaysha Wizzart, a political science graduate student who helped facilitate the event, saw firsthand how students connected with the stories. Scott told the audience that any of them could be featured in future episodes because their work matters just as much.

England praised the Mountaineers who are "believing in themselves and taking a risk in trying things" across campus and throughout the community. Their combined efforts help both adapt to current climate challenges and prevent future warming.

The message resonated: you already have what it takes to make a difference.