Troy University officials took home a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Postsecondary Sustainability Award during a ceremony last month in Washington D.C.

Jonathan Cellon, Associate Dean for First Year Studies, and Dr. Shirley Farrell, Assistant Professor in the College of Education, represented TROY at the event, which included more than 50 K-12 schools, districts and colleges. The awards recognize innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education.

“It was an honor to represent Troy University at this event, alongside outstanding schools from across the nation,” Cellon said. “At TROY, we are proud to promote conservation and sustainability both on campus and in the surrounding community.”

TROY was one of six postsecondary institutions nationally to receive a Green Ribbon Schools award.

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 through programs designed to educate and increase awareness. The University partners with several area schools to promote camps including the “Pike County Groundwater Festival,” “Achilles Kids,” and “Power Up with STEM.”