Auburn Office of Sustainability recognizes campus, community efforts with Spirit of Sustainability Awards

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The Auburn University Office of Sustainability held its third annual Spirit of Sustainability Awards program on Earth Day, April 22, to recognize the accomplishments of students, faculty, staff and alumni who "exemplify the Auburn spirit by making significant contributions toward sustainability on campus or in the community."

"Jane Goodall says, 'What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.' We are delighted for the opportunity to recognize some of the people who are making such a positive difference for Auburn University and the world," said Mike Kensler, director of the Office of Sustainability.

Recipients were determined by their motivation and commitment to sustainability; impact on behalf of sustainability; and the degree to which others were engaged and involved.

The 2015 award recipients are: Jaimen Perez, a senior studying economics in the College of Liberal Arts; Dennis DeVries, professor in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences in the College of Agriculture; Eve Brantley, associate professor and water resource specialist in the College of Agriculture; Glenn Loughridge, director of Campus Dining; and Carlie Bullock-Jones, founder and principal at Ecoworks Studio in Atlanta, Georgia.

Group initiatives also were recognized and included the student-led Campus Kitchens Project, which collaborates with local food distributers, and Rural Studio, the College of Architecture, Design and Construction's program, which partners with communities in Hale County, Alabama.

Consideration is given to initiatives in the areas of research, instruction, outreach and operations, and campus and community projects which have taken place within the last two years and have made a significant difference in the areas of nature, the economy, society or individual well-being.

"The program was created in part to generate awareness of sustainability initiatives and to acknowledge those who are making significant contributions," Kensler said. "The Spirit of Sustainability Awards program is also intended to inspire further innovations, initiatives and actions toward a flourishing future."

Read more about the awardees at http://wp.auburn.edu/sustainability/people/ssa/.

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Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.