September 16, 2025

Media Contacts:
Marcine Miller, Executive Director, Public Information Office, 509-682-6582, mmiller2@wvc.edu

Meet Ava Burk. Ava graduated from Wenatchee Valley College in 2025 with an associate of arts and sciences transfer degree and was nominated for the President’s Medal for her academic achievements, community engagement as a member of the college’s Sustainability Committee, and leadership as the director of social and civic responsibilities for the ASWVC Student Senate.

During the spring quarter before graduation, Ava learned about the Building Efficiency and Clean Operations Network (BEACON) fellowship through her professor and Sustainability Committee coordinator, Dr. Joan Qazi, who knew Ava was passionate about sustainability and urban planning. As a BEACON fellow hosted by Wenatchee Valley College, Ava is working to help WVC and communities in Chelan County meet Clean Building Performance Standards, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve energy savings over the next year.

“Sustainability really matters to me,” Ava shared. “Professor Joan Qazi knew that I was interested in urban planning, and this fellowship is great at exposing young professionals to policy, understanding building systems, and sustainability.”

Before coming to college, Ava took a gap year after high school and worked in Alaska as a tour guide and in Canada with Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). Her experience working outdoors instilled within her a commitment to conservation efforts, which has grown throughout her time at Wenatchee Valley College.

“Joan is actually a huge reason why I care so much about sustainability,” Ava continued. “Taking her Intro to Sustainability class taught me that it's not this two-dimensional problem. Any subject can have sustainability ideas because it’s in everything we do. Conservation isn’t just about not tearing down trees, it’s also about equity and socioeconomic justice.”

“I remember a feeling I had when I was camping when I was twelve years old. It was a connection I had with the natural world and ever since, I’ve been passionate about being outdoors and preserving that feeling for myself, other people, and generations to come, so that people can experience recreation and a safe space that everyone has access to.”

After her BEACON fellowship, Ava has her sights set on continuing her education and hopes to transfer to Western Washington University to pursue her BA in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development.

For students and professionals who are committed to sustainability, Ava encourages them to “go for it. Even if you don’t know what section of climate justice you’re most passionate about, any work related to climate action and policy is important. I’ve learned so much already through this [BEACON] fellowship and have received so much support and made great connections. There are so many jobs now that include sustainability in some shape or form. As long as you’re doing something that you care about, that’s all that matters.”

Reflecting on her experience at WVC and how it prepared her for the BEACON fellowship, Ava shared, “I could not be more grateful. I have such a great community of people around me who are supporting, mentoring, and helping me do this work. I loved it so much here [at WVC] that I had to stay!”

To learn more about sustainability initiatives at Wenatchee Valley College, visit wvc.edu/sustainability.

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