Sustainability champions celebrated at annual breakfast

Grand Valley students, faculty, staff and community members were celebrated and recognized for their sustainable efforts at the sixth annual Sustainability Champions Awards Breakfast April 3.

President Thomas J. Haas, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell and Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies Dean Anne Hiskes spoke about the importance of growing sustainable practices at Grand Valley and in Grand Rapids. Thirty-eight sustainability champions were recognized at the event, which was hosted by the Sustainable Community Development Initiative.

“Sustainability is one of our core values at Grand Valley,” Haas said. “Our students told us that, so when it comes to student success, our collective efforts must focus on that mantra and core value.”

Hiskes said Grand Valley’s campuses serve as a living, learning model of sustainable best practices. “Our vision at Grand Valley is to make sustainability a part of everyone’s everyday job,” she said.

Recipients of the Nichols Sustainability Scholarship were also recognized at the breakfast. The scholarship was created in 2006 to reward students who are committed to making a difference in environmental, social and fiscal sustainability. Nichols, established in 1936, is a distributor of products to clean and protect the Great Lakes Region.