Growing up in Reidsville, North Carolina, Taft found his love for the environment and the great outdoors through his experiences with the Scouts of America. Regular camping trips, along with service projects, developed his appreciation for the environment and the importance of stewardship. As a Bonner scholar at Davidson college, his service work was rooted within the environment, teaching him the importance of community. His environmental studies coursework in college taught him not only the natural sciences of the environment, but also the interdisciplinary nature of the field and the different ways in which we can see the outdoors. With a minor in computer science, he is interested in exploiting the ways in which complex environmental problems can be solved through technical solutions. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, playing tennis, gardening, and learning all about plants. Taft is passionate about fighting for an environment that everyone can enjoy and be healthy within, and looks forward to continuing his work with CleanAIRE NC.