Nearly 50 students, faculty and staff, and community members were recognized as Sustainability Champions during the 11th annual awards luncheon March 22 in the Kirkhof Center.
The Office of Sustainability Practices sponsors the awards ceremony to celebrate the contributions of campus and community members who practice and support the ideals of sustainable living.
Two campus group awards were presented to people who helped plan the GVSU Coat Drive (Sharalle Arnold, Anita Benes, Karen Gipson, Giselle Guasso, Brian Hatzel, Jennifer Jameslyn, Elly Maheras and Iota Tau Alpha) and an Upcycling Session (Jennifer Jameslyn, Julia Mason, Samuel Afoakwa and community partners).
The coat drive was conducted during the winter semester to provide winter coats to students in need; more than 100 coats were collected and 40 were distributed.
The Upcycling Session was held January 21, during the national Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Participants at the session used a no-sew method to create shopping bags from clean, used t-shirts. Community partners were Stitchtime in Jenison, and Community Action House in Holland.
Students who received scholarships from Nichols, a West Michigan product distributor, were recognized. The company established the scholarship in 2006, recognizing students who are committed to sustainability.
Margaux Sellau received the Feenstra Scholarship and will serve an internship at the Sustainable Agriculture Project. The fund was established in memory of Dave Feenstra who died in December 2015. Feentstra retired from Grand Valley in 2012 then returned in 2014 to serve as adjunct manager for the SAP. Feenstra’s family attended the ceremony.
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