Students and Faculty Help "Keep Pinellas Beautiful"

As part of its commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities for students, St. Petersburg College (SPC) values its relationships with community partners, like Keep Pinellas Beautiful (KPB).

Through campus cleanups, conservation and beautification efforts, KPB has been a strong supporter of SPC for many years, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and an understanding of environmental conservation, while also enhancing connections with a host of other community organizations.

The mission of Keep Pinellas Beautiful is to conserve and beautify the natural environment through community engagement and education. From galvanizing community organizations for on-campus cleanups to providing materials and supplies for events, KPB’s long-standing partnership has helped SPC engage students and strengthen the community.

“Education is at the forefront of everything we do,” said KPB Executive Director Patricia DePlasco. “The more people want to participate with us, the greater the impact.”

KPB supports ongoing cleanup efforts at the estuary at SPC’s STEM Center and Eagle Crest Lake at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus. Students, faculty and community members come together to remove litter and storm debris and improve local ecosystems. KPB hauls away, sorts and measures debris, showing the significant value of volunteer hours and waste management of thousands of pounds of trash. KPB, partners and volunteers were a huge asset in removing debris from the STEM Center after the recent hurricanes.

SPC student Luke Mirabal participated in a recent cleanup at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, and said he was surprised by the amount of litter.

“It’s disheartening, but it’s a good message to take away, to make sure we’re taking care of what’s around us,” said Mirabal, who plans to continue in SPC’s Bachelor of Science in Biology program and pursue a career in environmental conservation. “If we don’t mitigate pollution in our environment, it’s going to impact the wetlands around Florida.”

Environmental impacts

According to DePlasco, 80% of all pollution ends up in waterways, which can cause red tide and other algae blooms, as well as contribute to microplastics in food.

“We’re surrounded by water in Pinellas, our waters are so important for food, recreation and our livelihood,” DePlasco said. “We want to educate the public to avoid these things.”

In addition to cleanup efforts, students play a vital role in collecting environmental data. They also assess biodiversity by identifying plant and animal species and contribute to ongoing research.

For example, SPC Biology Professor Dr. Stephanie Palomino works with her students to measure key water quality indicators such as temperature, pH, salinity and dissolved oxygen. Harmful algae are also monitored. Samples and recorded water quality are sent to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), then analyzed and shared on their weekly sample maps available to the public.

“These partnerships have provided not only opportunities for students to get involved with the greater St. Petersburg community, but this dedicated work makes a difference in the health of our environment and betterment of our future,” Palomino said.

Community engagement

In addition to providing volunteers and materials for cleanups, KPB has provided guest speakers at events, hired SPC student interns and SPC graduates, and provided training on water sampling and detection methods for SPC staff.

Erica Moulton, Assistant Dean of Natural Science, emphasizes the importance of KPB’s partnership initiatives in extending SPC’s reach and connecting with other organizations including FWC, Stewards of Our Urban Lakes, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, the Tampa Bay Rays and many others.

“Students are learning about corporate stewardship and the value of community engagement,” Moulton said. “Students who participate in cleanups recognize that employees are giving back to the community. It teaches them to be good business stewards and helps them make connections in the community.”

Overall, SPC’s partnership with Keep Pinellas Beautiful is helping SPC shape the next generation of environmental leaders, ready to make a positive impact no matter their career path.