Jul 30, 2015 2 min read

Sue Tran is passionate about changing the way people live.

So when the Washington & Jefferson junior learned she had an opportunity to attend Energypath 2015, the international business and communications major jumped at the chance.

Energypath is the region’s largest sustainable energy conference, which seeks to increase the knowledge and passion for sustainable energy, according to the conference’s website. The annual conference is sponsored by Sustainable Energy Fund, a nonprofit organization that assists energy users in overcoming financial, educational and regulatory barriers to sustainable energy.

This year’s event was held July 20 through July 24 at the University of Scranton.

“W&J opened up my heart and mind to the environmental science track,” Tran, of Akron, Ohio, said. “(The event) has provided me with more technical knowledge and the know-how to live as efficiently as possible.”

Tran, who is minoring in environmental science, said she hopes to one day return to her parents’ native Vietnam and make a difference. This was the second time she attended the conference.

The 20-year-old was among four W&J students to receive a $250 grant to attend the event. The other students are Sydney Bynum, Kealeb Hyde and Abigail Katsos. Tran said housing and food were provided for students, and the grant covered travel expenses.

Katsos, an environmental studies and sociology major, said the event provided her with an opportunity to bring new information back to campus.

“It provided an in-depth look at sustainable energy,” the Pittsburgh resident said. “I learned so much.”

Katsos, like other students who attended the event, participated in hands-on camps and seminars. The event is open to middle school, high school and college students, as well as professionals.

For more information about Energypath, visit http://www.energypath.org.