'I leave with a broadened perspective'

Ellie Butkovich: Environment & Sustainability

5/15/2026

Ellie Butkovich

Environment & Sustainability
Holly, Mich.

Why did you choose Cornell?

I never had a dream school, and didn't begin considering where I could end up for college until my junior year. When I got to the fun of picking reach schools to apply to, Cornell immediately stood out. Throughout all my applications, I spent the most time on my "Why Cornell?" essay, as Cornell's classes, extracurriculars and opportunities seemed the most aligned with my aspirations. I still have the video of me submitting my Common App to Cornell, where I admit to myself for the first time that it's my dream school, and I watch it every time I need a reminder of how far I've come.

When I eventually got waitlisted, I immediately reached out to a good friend and mentor, who helped me craft my Letter of Continued Interest. The passion and eagerness I felt when, once again, researching the school further showed me this is where I needed to be.

What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you?

I've been working at the Statler Hotel since my first week of freshman year, making this my fourth year there. What started as just a need for a job has contributed to my personal, professional and academic growth in substantial ways. Most importantly to me, I've made some of my best friends in my college career here – people I wouldn't have met in classes or other extracurriculars. Additionally, when I started this job, I had no idea what I wanted to do professionally. The Statler is where I first began to ponder the juxtaposition between hospitality and sustainability, and it is what inspired me to design my own concentration in Sustainable Operations & Ecotourism (which was then transformed into Sustainable Operations & Ecotourism in Latin America).

What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?

I'm most proud of the work I completed during my six-month co-op with Carnival Corporation. I worked full-time for six months straight, taking a semester off from school, and was able to contribute the most I ever have to one initiative. I was able to tackle a program the Responsible Sourcing team didn't yet have the bandwidth to do themselves: Responsible Excursions & Experiences. I've developed this program from the ground up, with the main focus being on establishing higher animal welfare and sustainability standards for our Tour Operator partners around the globe. My work has directly improved the lives of animals involved in tourism, and I'm really proud to be able to say that.

How have your beliefs or perspectives changed since you first arrived at Cornell?

Being part of an interdisciplinary major, within such an interdisciplinary school, has taught me things I didn't know I needed to learn. My version of environment and sustainability was very narrow-minded before coming to Cornell; I only imagined I would be learning about environmental science and policy. But I get to leave with a broadened perspective and knowledge of environmental history, literature, art, sociology, communication and economics (to name a few).

Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most?

Both my parents studied geology in college, and I have fond memories of being young and pestering them about what every type of rock was in our driveway – thinking they were the coolest people ever for knowing and inspiring me to want to know more about the environment around me. As I've progressed in my education, I've enjoyed sharing what I'm learning with my parents, and through this, I've developed the critical skill of fluently moving in and out of the bubble of academia.

What are your plans for next year?

I have started a six-month contract with Carnival Corporation to be a responsible sourcing specialist. These first six months are virtual, and I plan to use the flexibility to also do a program in Ecuador for two months, working on helping Indigenous locals to convert their homes into homestays to bring more sustainable tourism to central Ecuador.

Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series. Read more about the Class of 2026.