Environmental Science major Hannah Horengic ’25 espouses gratitude for her four years at Lebanon Valley College, and there is no shortage of reasons why.

“I have had the opportunity to grow and develop in leadership roles. I am supported and encouraged by professors to make the most of my college experience in the classroom and the community. I am coming out of college not only with a degree but with strong friendships, community, connections, a stronger sense of self, and the ability to work through and overcome roadblocks.”

Horengic’s leadership skills arose through internships, service in the local community, and co-curricular experiences including being President of the popular Environmental Club and a member of the front ensemble of The Pride of The Valley Marching Band.

Horengic started her field experience at the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority in the spring of her sophomore year after learning about the position through Dr. Rebecca Urban, Director of Environmental Science and Professor of Biology. Horengic shadowed the facility’s engineer and completed tasks that include surveying on-site animal life and analyzing water quality test results. The internship culminated with a final project.

“There was an unused mining area toward the back of the landfill that needed to be restored,” said Horengic. “I selected trees, shrubs, and grasses that would suit the area and evaluated where to plant them to fulfill state requirements. This internship allowed me to see a practical application of classroom subjects, and how businesses adjust to follow regulations, which aligns with my Business Administration minor.”

After leaving the Refuse Authority, Horengic spent two summers with the Lebanon County Conservation District, where she participated in a watershed project in partnership with the Quittapahilla Watershed Association and the Lebanon Valley Conservancy.

“This internship was instrumental in teaching me how to converse with landowners and the public, which is something you can’t learn in a classroom,” Horengic said. “It also helped me to understand how conservation projects are implemented, and the impact they can have on the land. To see these things with my own eyes, and not from pictures on a screen, reinforced my learning from the classroom.”

Horengic also contributes to local environmental efforts through membership in the Lebanon Valley Conservancy, whose mission is to promote the conservation and preservation of the unique cultural, historical, and natural resources of the region, for the benefit of present and future generations. Horengic became the first student invited to serve on the organization’s Board of Directors and was recently elected Board Secretary, another example of her growing leadership skills.

Reflecting on her experiences, Horengic credits mentorship from not only Dr. Urban, but Dr. Doug Becker, Associate Professor of Biology, and Dr. Rob Carey, Professor of Biology. Becker advises the Environmental Club and worked with Horengic in his Research First group the summer before her first year at LVC.

“Research First is an opportunity for incoming students to get practical and laboratory exposure to their major before the semester starts,” Horengic said. “I did not know much about insects or herbaceous plants, but he was very patient and helpful. The other students in his research group were also very compassionate, and they showed me around campus. The whole experience helped me to be more prepared for the fall semester.”

Horengic also gained valuable research experience with Carey. The pair collaborated with Little Brook Orchids on a research project focused on orchid propagation in the lab.

As Commencement approaches, Horengic, who recently was named a Campus Sustainability Champion by the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium, looks forward to a career as an environmental scientist.

“I am excited to work in the field and do what I can to make our practices more sustainable and beneficial to humanity and the environment. I chose this path because it is my passion, and I cannot wait to apply the information I have learned these past four years to make a difference.”