By Brianna Brinker, Campus News Editor
When you first move into college, it comes with a long list of essentials you need in a dorm. That long list can add up to be expensive and difficult for college students and families to afford. International studies May 2026 graduate, Thalie Brossard chose to help with this problem in her senior year by starting a program to recycle dorm supplies on campus. This way, incoming freshman can save money and use supplies from other students who don’t need them anymore.
“What sparked my idea for an ‘End-of-Semester Reuse Program’ was seeing all the students throw perfectly good dorm items away at the end of each semester. TVs, pans, furniture, bedding, all things that could be perfect use for future students moving in,” said Brossard.
When it is time to move out, students tend to throw away their dorm supplies because they don’t have room for it at home. Brossard’s idea created a place for students to drop off supplies they don’t need anymore. This is beneficial for both students who are moving out and the students who are coming in.
Now, the students moving out don’t have to bring all their dorm supplies home, and the incoming students already have free items that are in good condition to use for their new rooms.
The program Brossard created also helps our environment immensely. Throwing away unnecessary items in the dumpsters is such a waste and impacts our earth in negative ways. This is why Brossard’s recycling program is such a great idea.
“I felt like it was such an unnecessary waste, not only because those items were in great condition to be used again, but also because of the environmental factors in all of that. All trash goes directly into landfills, creating significant amounts of greenhouse gases, which are extremely harmful not only to us but also accelerate the effects of climate change,” said Brossard.
Brossard said they already have gotten so many donations, including bedding, furniture, televisions, decorations, kitchen appliances, and books!
“All will be available for pickup during the fall move-in weeks for students who need them,” said Brossard.
One idea from one student made a difference. Brossard just graduated in May of 2026, and she gave back to her Saint Leo University community for the new class of 2030 coming in.
“I think we need to do more to prioritize sustainability on campus. From excessive trash, lack of recycling options, and limited education and awareness about sustainability, I felt the urge to find ways to take action,” said Brossard.
This is Brossard’s way of communicating her opinion that we need more resources on campus to encourage and teach people about the importance of recycling.
“Responsible Stewardship is actually one of Saint Leo’s core values, so it felt contradictory that we didn’t have basic systems in place to support it. But beyond the campus, I genuinely believe that small, practical actions, such as giving a dorm item a second life, are how real change actually happens,” said Brossard.
Real change comes with taking action, and that is exactly what Brossard did. Her advocacy for recycling is inspiring. Hopefully, her program continues and motivates students to do the same thing at the end of each school year.
