A Year in Review: The Vital Impacts Student Speaker Series
Our Inaugural Year
We are thrilled to wrap up the inaugural year of the Vital Impacts Student Speaker Series with incredible success! This year, we brought world-class scientists and storytellers to live talks nationwide, reaching over 10,000 students in 13 U.S. markets. Among the highlights, we proudly provided the keynote speaker for the Miami Youth Climate Summit, where students from across Florida gathered to take action on climate change.
With 17 talks this year, from large performing arts centers to intimate discussions, our speakers made a profound impact on the next generation of environmental stewards. We are so excited to grow this program and continue to empower students to be their best selves.
Empowering Educators and Inspiring Students
The impact of our Student Speaker Series is clear from the overwhelmingly positive feedback we’ve received from educators, who have witnessed firsthand how these talks inspire and engage their students.
Out of 215 educators who attended our talks, 99.5% strongly agreed or agreed that their students enjoyed the program and 99.1% felt that the students’ knowledge of environmental topics including wildlife issues, extinction, climate change, ecosystem degradation, or habitat loss has improved.
As well, 95% of educators said their students’ excitement for learning about nature, wildlife and environmental topics has increased and 98% would recommend these talks to others.
At the Woods School in North Carolina, students were inspired to base their quarterly projects around Ronan Donovan’s talk. Envisioning their lives 20 years from now, they made professional mock websites from the perspective of their future selves, many of which revolved around conservation and environmental careers. Then, in a school-wide assembly, the students proudly shared their dreams to their peers, sparking excitement and interest in paths that benefit sustainability and conservation.
Margaret, a teacher at the Woods School, shared, “I never would have come up with this idea without having Mr. Donovan come speak, so I am very grateful that he came to Woods Charter!”
Meet our New Program Speakers
This year, we are expanding our reach and are excited to welcome 6 additional speakers to our 2024-2025 Student Speaker Series.
Sylvia Earle: By showing how every breath of air we take and every drop of water we drink depends on the health of our Oceans, Dr. Sylvia Earle makes marine conservation everyone’s concern.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim: A member of Chad’s Mbororo pastoralist community, Hindou is an advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples and the protection of the environment.
Hannah Reyes Morales: Filipina photographer Hannah Reyes Morales focuses on bringing historical memory and current events home.
Camille Seaman: Of Native American (Shinnecock) and African American descent, Camille Seaman’s photography emphasizes humanity’s inseparable connection to nature.
Evgenia Arbugaeva: Evgenia explores her homeland—the Arctic—discovering and documenting its remote worlds and people who inhabit it.
Kiliii Yüyan: Photographer Kiliii Yüyan illuminates the stories of the Arctic and human communities connected to the land.
We can’t wait to share their powerful stories and insights with students across the country!
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned for our exciting 2024-2025 talks! If you're interested in bringing one of our inspiring speakers to your school, reach out to us at hello@vitalimpacts.org.
TALK | Ami Vitale at the Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo, CA, October 11, 2024 (Student Matinee)
TALK | Vincent J. Musi in Danville, CA, Oct. 17, 2024 (Student Matinee)
TALK | Anand Varma in Danville, CA, November 22, 2024 (Student Matinee)
TALK | Keith Ladzinski at the Kauffman Center, Kansas City, MO, March 25, 2025 (Student Matinee)
Photos by Angela Bell and Deborah Benson.