Elaina King-Bryce, a senior environmental studies major at Waynesburg University, will walk the graduation stage this upcoming May. From Bethel Park, she was intrigued by the University’s Marine Biology program, a passion she had from a young age. 

When she was young, she started learning a lot about the environment and the lack of protection animals have around the world. King-Bryce was a vegetarian for eight years and was inspired to do something to help the ocean after the big oil spill in 2010. She began her freshman year as a marine biology major, later switching to a major closer to her heart during her sophomore year.

“I was more into protecting the environment as a whole. I still wanted to do something with the environment, just less on the biology side and more on the policy side, that’s why I have a public policy focus.” King-Bryce said, while stating the biology side consisted more of research and studying. “I think my favorite part about my new major is how easy it is for me to share my love of the nature with the world.” She discussed how her major allows her to talk about the natural disasters and the effects of humans on the environment and share that with peers and others to make them think about how they live.

“Elaina had provided leadership through her passion for environmental service.  She is always enthusiastic and helpful when there is work to do and provides effective guidance to others. Her attitude exemplifies to others what can be done if you put your mind to it and how to be successful both as a student and a team member,” Dr. Janet Paladino who is a professor of environmental science and has initiated a program on the Unity Trail on campus wrote.

The Unity Trail on the Waynesburg University campus is a place King-Bryce has spent much of her time working in the field. Some of the unique things she’s been able to do on the trail include leading service days, presenting at events, leading tours and even building natural stairs out of rock and mud. When going through the trail, visitors will notice a wooden bench that she had a large part in building.

King-Bryce’s favorite part of her major is being able to help save and nurture the environment. “Her passion for learning. She has overcome many challenges while being a college student and has done so with determination and grace,” Paladino wrote. “Many students face adversity when trying to reach their goals. Elaina is a stunning example of one who had enough motivation and faith in herself to keep going. We can all learn from her accomplishments!”

“I think I would say that I put a lot of work into the things that I care about, and I always try to put my family and friends first, but I can be tough when necessary,” King-Bryce said about her personality. When asked what King-Bryce would want people to know about her, she said, “I have worked really hard to go from how I was at the beginning of my college career to who I am now, and I’m proud of that.”

Additionally, some memories she recalls surrounding her major include testing stream water, dinosaur day and her internship at the Allegheny Front, in which she managed their social media and wrote a radio story about sustainable weddings. Her fondest memories come from, “Any time that Dr. Paladino had us go outside and do things. We had a field botany class that was five and a half hours long, and almost every class she tried to have trips planned. Some of those trips were to botanical gardens and Shield’s Nursery and were something that pulled me out of a dark time and made me really fall in love with my major all over again,” King-Bryce said. 

Paladino wrote, “We went ziplining for field botany class in a freak snowstorm in October. Not your typical fall day. We were flying through the tree canopy in a driving snow squall but we were frozen.”

At the University, King-Bryce has been in Eco Stewards for three years, starting her sophomore year, later becoming the communications manager for the Eco Stewards during her senior year. With that role she created posters, helped set up events, got the word out and posted on social media. She also did an internship at the Unity Trail and community gardens in which she led service days and other events for the University, the borough of Waynesburg and EQT, who sponsors the trail.

King-Bryce is currently working on a new recycling program for the school, which is something that she wants to make sure carries on after she graduates. 

King-Bryce’s favorite quote is the Bible verse Isaiah 43:2, which reads, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” 

King-Bryce said, “You walked through fire, and you didn’t burn because He was with you, meaning God was with you and even though you went through something terrible or are going through something that tries to break you, He is by your side, so you will be okay.”

King-Bryce aspires to be an environmental lobbyist and continue her work towards conservation of the environment. She plans to move somewhere warm, although Pittsburgh will forever be her home King-Bryce stated. 

Paladino wrote, “Elaina is one feisty young woman. I definitely want her on my team because when she is there, I feel like we can’t lose!”

As for what advice King-Bryce would leave to future students, she said, “I think in general you have to be open to change, because when I first had to change my major, it was like the world was ending, but it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. You will be humbled in college, whether it’s your major or friends, at some point someone is going to humble you, and you need to take it as growth instead of hate.”