On St. Patrick’s Day at Sam Houston State University, CFACT Collegians Nicolas Walker and Nyle Torpy hosted a campus event that combined a lighthearted atmosphere with a serious conversation about energy and conservation.
The turnout didn’t happen by accident. Nicolas and Nyle spent weeks promoting the event—handing out flyers, talking with students across campus, and building interest through word of mouth. By the time the day arrived, they had a solid group ready to show up, grab some food, and hear something different.
And there was plenty of food to go around. Raising Cane’s chicken, pizza, and a spread of drinks and snacks gave the event an easygoing feel, making it as much a social gathering as a speaker event. That relaxed setting helped students settle in before the conversation shifted to bigger topics.
After a scavenger hunt centered on identifying native plants and animals, the group gathered to hear from H. Sterling Burnett, Director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy at The Heartland Institute, a CFACT ally. Introduced by Nyle Torpy, Burnett spoke to more than twenty students about the realities of modern energy production and conservation.
His talk focused on trade-offs—what it actually takes to produce energy that is reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible. Rather than leaning on buzzwords, Burnett walked through how different energy sources perform in the real world, not according to some bias professor who’s never worked in the private sector. He emphasized reliability first, explaining why sources like nuclear, natural gas, and coal remain essential for keeping the grid stable, and pushed back on the idea that so-called “green” energy comes without environmental, economic, or reliability costs.
Students didn’t just sit quietly—they engaged. Several asked direct, thoughtful questions, testing the ideas they were hearing against what they’d been taught elsewhere. Burnett handled the back-and-forth with a steady, straightforward approach, keeping the discussion focused and productive.
That kind of interaction is exactly what Nicolas and Nyle set out to create. The goal wasn’t just to host a speaker, but to give students a chance to hear a different perspective and think through it for themselves.
The event wrapped up on a more personal note, with students presenting Burnett a carton of fresh eggs from a local Huntsville farm—a thoughtful gift that reflected the appreciation and local community the group of students represented.
Between the weeks of outreach, strong turnout, and steady engagement throughout the discussion, Nicolas and Nyle put together a well-executed event. Students walked away with a deeper understanding of the costs and benefits associated with different energy production methods—free from ideological slant or interpretation. Exactly the kind of outcome these campus efforts are meant to achieve.
