The Summer 2024 Student Team

Madelyn Craft
Volunteer Coordinator

Madelyn Craft is an incoming senior at the University of Illinois, majoring in Sustainable Design with minors in Landscape Studies and Natural Resource Conservation. She is most interested in native plants, green infrastructure, and environmental restoration. She is pursuing a career where she can implement aspects of both green infrastructure and landscape restoration into creating urban spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally beneficial in the hopes of building healthier communities. In her free time, she enjoys birdwatching and reading.

Maddy provides tours, leads volunteer workdays, and coordinates with the RORG Team on volunteer communications. She also assists in monitoring and documenting growth and activities at the rain garden.

Erin Schimenti
Student Engagement Intern

Erin Schimenti is an incoming junior at the University of Illinois who loves being outside and exploring the natural areas around campus. She is pursuing a dual degree in Sustainable Design and Communication. She is especially interested in urban nature and sustainable architecture. In the future, she hopes to combine art and sustainability to help communities and their local environments thrive.

Under the guidance of the RORG Team, Erin is involved in outreach and engagement, providing tours, tabling events, and developing a series of botanical art that increase rain garden plant literacy.

Abbey Ascolani
Communications Intern

Abbey is an incoming senior at the University of Illinois studying Communication with a minor in Legal Studies. Her interests include traveling to national parks, learning about film and television, and spending quality time with family and friends. From being a camp counselor to hammocking around campus, Abbey has a profound passion for the outdoors and will never say no to an opportunity to explore. She is eager to contribute to the missions of the Red Oak Rain Garden, such as community and student engagement, and develop her educational goals.

Abbey coordinates our social media communications, developing plans and leading the charge of our biggest outreach event of the year, Rain Garden Rumble, under the guidance of the RORG Team.