About

History

Founded in October of 2019, Topsail POP is recognized as the first high school chapter of the non-profit Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. Since its establishment, the chapter has collected thousands of pounds of trash in the local area, signed over a dozen local establishments for the Ocean Friendly Establishment Initiative, and worked with Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. and UNCW POP to advocate for and create change within our communities.

Our Initiatives

Topsail High School POP focuses their work on the two main initiatives of Plastic Ocean Project, Inc.'s:

Trees4Trash - Through a partnership with the NC Wildlife Federation and Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. for every 25 lbs of trash collected by POP's chapters, a tree will be planted in the local community.

Ocean Friendly Establishments (OFE) - A restaurant and small business sustainability certification program; Through the OFE Initiative, Topsail POP has recognized well-over a dozen local establishments for their efforts to become more sustainable and reduce plastic distribution.

Luke Anders certifies Shaka Taco as an Ocean Friendly Establishment in early 2020.

Sumer Williams, Luke Anders, and Finn Adams at a Trees4Trash planting event in late 2019.

Our officer team

The great work of Topsail POP could not be without the leaders behind it all. Meet our 2020-2021 officer team.

Luke Anders

President

Founding the chapter, Anders has served as President since 2019, and will continue to serve in the role until his graduation in May of 2021. In addition, he serves as the Communications Coordinator for Surf City Ocean Fest. This upcoming Fall, Anders will attend Wake Forest University where he plans to study Politics & International Affairs, setting himself up for a career working towards environmental and social justice for all.

Finn Adams

Vice President

Adams has served as Vice President since the chapter's founding in 2019. VP Adams is an avid surfer and Topsail Island-local. Adams plans to study Marine Biology after graduating high school in 2022.

Bella Aluise

Co-Secretary

Aluise has served as Secretary since the chapter's founding in 2019, and will continue to serve until her graduation in May of 2021. Aluise plans to study Biology after graduating high school this semester.

Dana Solomon

Co-Secretary

Solomon was appointed to serve as Co-Secretary in the fall of 2021. Solomon aspires to study Nursing and become a traveling nurse!

Will Pressler

Treasurer

Pressler has served as the chapter's treasurer since 2019, and will continue to serve in his role until graduating in May of 2021. Pressler loves to fish, and understands the impact of plastic pollution on his sport!

Isabel Buric

Art Co-Committee Leader

Buric was appointed to serve as Art Committee Leader in 2019. Buric is passionate about environmentalism, and plans to study Marine Biology or Journalism after graduating.

Lily Eubanks

Art Co-Committee Leader, Education Co-Committee Leader

Eubanks was appointed to serve as the Art Committee & Education Committee Leader in the Spring of 2021. She will serve in these roles until she graduates. Eubanks plans to study Biomedical Engineering after graduating.

Adam Kessel

Community Outreach Co-Committee Leader

Kessel was appointed to serve as the Community Outreach Committee Leader in 2019. Kessel is a major asset to the success of the OFE initiative in the Topsail-area. He will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this Fall.

Amelia Marshburn

Community Outreach Co-Committee Leader

Marsburn was appointed to serve as the Community Outreach Committee Leader in the Spring of 2021. Marshburn will serve as the committee leader until she graduates.

Ryan Johnston

Education Co-Committee Leader

Johnston has served as the Education Committee Leader since 2019. Johnston has worked to bring accessible-education to our chapter, school and community on plastic pollution. He will serve in this role until he graduates in May of 2021.

Kaden Kelly

Fundraising & Marketing Co-Committee Leader

Kelly has served as the FAM committee leader since 2019. Kelly will hold this role until his graduation in May of 2021.

Tanner Kelly

Fundraising & Marketing Co-Committee Leader

Kelly was appointed to serve as the FAM committee leader in the Spring of 2021. Tanner is the second Kelly to hold this position.

Maria Liberati

Research Co-Committee Leader

Liberati has served as the Education Committee Leader since 2019. Liberati has worked towards educating our school through research. She will serve in this role until she graduates in May of 2021.

Lexi Denning