Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand
High School: The American School of Bangkok - Green Valley
Chanakarn’s decision to attend IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) was based on her passion for sustainability and the universities’ sustainability commitment. “Being a Bepko Scholar means that I am given the opportunity to inspire my peers and work with them to make our world a better place,” Chanakarn said. Chanakarn has already made strides in sustainability herself. She has participated in ServICE, a student-led conference that focuses on volunteerism and community improvement. She was a conference host, a service trip leader, and a speaker at the ServICE conference discussing waste management at home and the zero-waste lifestyle. She also started a blog called Eco The Alien that advocates for environmental conservation and offers eco-friendly products for purchase. She was inspired to start the blog by her experiences with the ServICE conferences. Chanakarn was valedictorian of her class and looks forward to being part of the “tight-knit Honors college community” at IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis).