A Celestial Night at 2024 EProM

Every year, the student-run Environmental Policy and Management Social Committee plans and hosts a spring event called EProM.

 EProM was created by the first cohort of EPM students to celebrate the year's achievements, gathering together students, friends, family, and faculty. This event is one of many events planned and hosted by the EPM Social Committee, whose mission is to create space to foster a community between EPM students, faculty and staff. This event is an excellent opportunity for students to gain skills in event planning, delegation, budget management, and collaboration between multiple stakeholders.

On the last Saturday of April, the Social Committee hosted this year’s EProM, with the theme Celestial Nights. We hosted approximately 80 people at the Putah Creek Lodge, located in the UC Davis Arboretum. The evening consisted of dinner, refreshments, backyard games, a pinata and a raffle fundraiser. 

When brainstorming themes for EProM, the committee tries to relate the concept to a present environmental issue. The committee decided to focus on the issue of air quality and light pollution and how that relates to various ecological problems. By focusing on this issue, it led to development of the theme of Celestial Nights and to fundraise for the Yolo Basin Foundation, a non-profit organization that educates and partners with the local community to increase environmental stewardship, especially focusing on the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, located just 10 miles from our campus. The Yolo Basin Foundation hosts a variety of events, including Duck Days, bat tours, speaker series, and educational programs. Corky Quirk, the program coordinator for the organization, came to speak about the Foundation and the importance of their work. With her, she bought a fuzzy friend, an ambassador bat the organization is currently rehabilitating. This year raffle items included handmade crafts and donated items from the EPM community and the UC Davis Student Farm. The Social Committee is proud to announce that they were able to raise $400 to donate to the Foundation. 

The event was an overall success, with high attendance, inter-cohort mingling, and the foundation of many fun memories. 

Thank you to the Yolo Basin Foundation, to everyone who attended, and to the social committee for all their assistance! We cannot wait to see what next year’s EProM has in store! - Sophia Collins and Courtney Carpenter, EProM Co-Chairs