SOU Named Finalist for Campus Sustainability Award

October 13, 2014
(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University is pleased to announce that it has been named a finalist for the Campus Sustainability Case Study Award, given annually by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
SOU is being considered for the award for its project, “Creating a Living and Learning Laboratory for Applied Sustainability and Campus Farm Through Collaboration and Student Engagement.”
According to SOU’s sustainability and recycling coordinator, Roxane Beigel-Coryell, the project is a collaborative effort between the campus and local community. “The SOU Center for Sustainability serves as a community resource for sustainability education,” she said. “It fosters sustainable business development, promotes interconnectedness, and facilitates leadership training through thoughtful learning and practice. We are extremely proud to be considered for this award among a very strong group of finalists.”
In addition to being a finalist for the Campus Sustainability Case Study Award, SOU will also serve as a host sponsor for AASHE’s 2014 Conference and Expo, taking place in Portland Oct. 26-29.
Themed “Innovation for Sustainable Economies and Communities, the AASHE annual conference is one of the most powerful forums for empowering higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. With nearly 2,000 participants, AASHE conferences are the largest stage in North America for higher education sustainability thought leadership. This year’s theme provides a multi-day conference that will focus on topics ranging from sustainable curriculums to waste elimination and everything in between.
“We are thrilled to bring exciting keynote addresses, including our featured keynote speaker, Annie Leonard, Greenpeace USA Executive Director and “Story of Stuff” creator to the annual Conference and Expo. Attendees can expect high-quality workshops, sustainability tours, the Student Summit, and more,” said Stephanie A. Herrera, Executive Director at AASHE. “Portland is the perfect location for the annual Conference and Expo. With an abundance of thought-provoking sessions as well as scenic bike routes, breathtaking scenery and more, we are confident that everyone will leave the conference feeling invigorated and ready to increase sustainability efforts.”
In addition to the featured keynote speaker, Annie Leonard, attendees can look forward to hearing Marcelo Bonta, founder of the Environmental Professionals of Color and the Center for Diversity & the Environment and Rob Bennett, founder and CEO of EcoDistricts.
SOU joins Edmonds Community College, Lane Community College, Lewis and Clark College, Pacific Lutheran University, Portland Community College, Portland State University, Seattle Colleges and University of Washington as campus hosts of the AASHE 2014 Conference and Expo.