Troy University’s commitment to sustainability, wellness and reducing the environmental impact of the campus has earned it a spot on the Alabama State Department of Education’s list of Green Ribbon Schools.
TROY was recently announced as the 2019 Green Ribbon School. The award honors innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and promote environmental and sustainability education.
TROY was recognized for a number of “green” initiatives on campus, including the construction of Janice Hawkins Cultural Arts Park, which involved stream restoration and invasive species removal in partnership with the Choctawhatchee-Pea and Yellow River Watershed Management Authority, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Daniel Foundation. The University will also lead the way in researching plastic recycling thanks to a $3.2 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology that will establish the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Science.
TROY’s commitment to sustainability and wellness also extends to the surrounding community. The University partners with several area schools to promote camps including the “Pike County Groundwater Festival,” “Achilles Kids,” and “Power Up with STEM.”
“Stewardship is a key value here at Troy University,” said Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. “We strive to be good stewards not only of our financial resources but also the natural resources and communities where we are located. We are proud to support programs and initiatives that will lead to a cleaner, healthier Alabama now and into the future.”
As an Alabama Green Ribbon School, Troy University will be nominated to be recognized as a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, Postsecondary Sustainability Awardee, to be announced this spring.
“As educators, we are expected to be good stewards of minds. As global residents, we are duty-bound to be good stewards of the environment. Troy University has masterfully designed an innovative balance between the two, and serves as a model for others who seek to lessen the carbon footprint of institutions of higher learning,” Dr. Eric G. Mackey, Alabama State Superintendent, said. “Troy University’s efforts to be environmentally responsible while at the same time promote education through research and STEM activities are admirable.”
Troy University will be recognized at the Alabama State Board of Education meeting in May, and celebrated with a picnic hosted by the Alabama Green Ribbon Schools Committee.
TROY was nominated for the award by a faculty/staff team including Shirley Farrell, Jonathan Cellon, Lauren Cochran, Hal Fulmer, Kelsey Howe, Mark Salmon, Shane Tatum and Herb Reeves.
