Environmental innovator and PhD candidate Ellie Sangree ’20 has been selected to deliver Pomfret’s 2025 Commencement Address. A passionate advocate for the environment and sustainable agriculture, Sangree is co-founder of the water filtration startup Eutrobac and a doctoral student in environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Sangree hopes to inspire graduates to embrace the power of asking questions — from the seemingly "stupid" ones that deepen fundamental understanding to the "smart" ones that push boundaries — reminding them that curiosity rather than performative expertise is the true foundation of success in today's intimidating academic and professional landscape. Drawing from her own experience, she plans to encourage students to use the energy and perspective of their generation to pursue opportunities with confidence and purpose.

Rooted in a childhood spent exploring the woods and waterways of northeastern Connecticut, Sangree’s love of nature was transformed into purpose on the Hilltop. At Pomfret, she led the environmental club, launched the Outing Club, and interned in the Helios aquaponics greenhouse — a formative experience that introduced her to bioremediation and inspired her academic path.

While an undergraduate at Hamilton College, Sangree drew inspiration from this and turned it into a groundbreaking innovation. She invented a biofilter technology to remove nitrogen pollution from water, secured a patent, and co-founded Eutrobac to bring the technology to market. Today, her company collaborates with agricultural companies, engineering schools, farmers, and park managers to offer a natural solution to water pollution in rural and urban communities alike. She is also launching an environmental consulting organization to promote sustainable landscape management at schools and business campuses nationwide.

Sangree’s work sits at the intersection of environmental science and real-world impact. At UC Santa Cruz, she continues to expand her research in nitrogen biogeochemistry while exploring how environmental science can influence real policy. 

The 131st Commencement of Pomfret School will be held on Sunday, May 25, at 11:00 a.m. on the Clark Chapel Lawn. The ceremony will be followed by a luncheon in the dining hall beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Learn more and register for Commencement here.

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