Utah State University Sustainability Awards

Utah State University Sustainability Council and Blue Goes Green programs held the first — of what is hoped to become annual —Sustainability Symposium and Awards April 15.

USU President Albrecht addressed attendees, and Kate Stephens, assistant director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Service Learning, announced the winners of the university’s first sustainability awards and a Blue Goes Green Grant. The awards recognize exemplary contributions to sustainability within the USU community.

The Sustainability Award recipients include:

• Liz Sodja, senior majoring in environmental studies, received a Student Sustainability Leadership Award for her service to the university through the Student Sustainability Office and Utah Conservation Corps. She is currently the student director of the Aggie Outdoor Volunteers and marketing intern for the Center for Civic Engagement and Service Learning.
• USU Swing Club received a Student Sustainability Leadership Award for its waste minimization and recycling efforts. Through changes in purchasing and set-up, the club reduced waste by approximately 60 percent and recycled more than 50 percent of the remaining materials at its events.
• Jacoby Knight and McKenna Lee, students at Utah State University, received the Innovation award for collaborating with the Logan Institute of Religion to host BYU professor George Handley for on a Fireside on Earth Stewardship with an attendance of approximately 400 people.
• Edwin Stafford, professor of marketing, received the Sustainability Educator Award for excellence teaching and communicating sustainability. In addition to teaching classes that let students examine the principles of effective communication and marketing, Stafford also helps students, staff, faculty and community members communicate the importance of sustainability by speaking to audiences’ values.
• Corey Cozzens, executive sous chef  in Dining Services, received the Employee Advocacy Award for his leadership  in food recovery through food donations to the Student Nutrition Access Center, Cache Food Pantry, Willow Park Zoo and composting. He worked to increase local food purchasing and leads Dining Services recycling efforts in retail and catering venues.

Blue Goes Green Grant recipients include:

• James Wirth, junior majoring in botany, accepted a Blue Goes Green Grant in the amount $8,315 for the USU Permaculture Initiative. The grant will expand and complete the permaculture garden on the Utah State University main campus, funding the removal of sod, installation of an irrigation system and purchase of plants and garden infrastructure.

Contact: Alexi Lamm, USU sustainability coordinator, (435) 797-9299, Alexi.lamm@usu.edu

Contact: Kate Stephens, assistant director Center for Civic Engagement and Service Learning, (435) 797-8135, Kate.Stephens@usu.edu