Sustainability Awards Recognize Extraordinary Efforts Over 2018-19

The third Impact Art Show opened with the fifth annual Sustainability Awards on April 15, 2019. Utah State University Sustainability Council, Student Sustainability Office and Caine College of the Arts recognized student artists who addressed the extraordinary challenges of climate change in their work and students and faculty who have made exemplary contributions to sustainability efforts at USU over the past year. Brenda Hawley, Caine College of the Arts Sustainability Fellow, organized the exhibit as a kick-off to USU’s Earth Week festivities, which wrapped up on April 22 with a celebration at First Dam.

The Sustainability Award recipients include:

Jenn Sapp, an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer with the Utah Conservation Corps Urban Community Farm, won the innovation award. She created infrastructure to provide fresh produce to the Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) and Cache Valley Food Pantry. She refurbished two greenhouses to extend the growing season, and recruited 291 volunteers who have served 1400 hours. 

Patrick Belmont, a faculty member in watershed sciences, won the sustainability advocacy award. He facilitated a greenhouse gas reduction resolution in the faculty senate, which encouraged the university to redouble efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The resolution sparked the formation of a task force appointed by USU President Noelle Cockett.

Denise Stewardson, faculty member in Applied Sciences, Technology & Education, won the Sustainability Educator Award. She teaches the Food Matters course. The student who nominated her said, “I imagine it's very difficult to introduce ideas and facts that shed light on some of the sustainability issues associated with agriculture. However, Denise manages it in such a supportive, science-based manner that I believe she is truly opening students' … eyes to the realities that we face.”

Dillan Passmore and Samantha Fitch won the Student Leadership Award. Passmore is a resident assistant in south campus. He was written grants for a water bottle filling station, piloted a plastic bag recycling program and advocated for the Energy Wars competition. Fitch led the Student Sustainability Club in 2018-19, drastically increasing the size of the club through creative programs where students could carve their own reusable spoons or sew produce bags. In January, she began working with True Blue Reuse program. 

The Impact Art Award recipients include:

Best in Show: Oiled Flamingo, a painting by Kristin Tingey

Second place: I Never Stopped Loving You, video by Tanner Ferguson

Third place: Disposable, poster by Marissa Devey

About the USU Sustainability Council
The Utah State University Sustainability Council formed in 2007 after the university became a signatory to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The Council seeks to reduce carbon emissions as well as conserve resources and enhance quality of life by promoting sustainability in USU’s academic and service missions.

About the Student Sustainability Office
The mission of the Utah State University Student Sustainability Office is to create a place on campus where students can generate and get help for their green ideas, obtain research grants for sustainability, and gain knowledge to take into their future.