Ignite

Sophomore Lauren Butts, who is majoring in Art Education with an Outdoor Leadership Certificate, submitted Ignite, a photograph of a sculpture on fire in nature. The photograph seeks to highlight the importance of preserving and protecting nature.

“The land I inhabit means much to me,” says Butts. “The National Parks need protection, [and] this piece explains how they are more prone to wildfires due to global warming and reckless recreation.” Her passion for hiking and Leave No Trace principles give her a unique perspective on environmental protection, shown in the photograph’s theme. She explains the play-on-words, saying “Let’s ignite a passion inside ourselves to stop the ignition of the natural world.”