Sustainability with Ashley

Transcript

UW-Stevens Point has a long history of offering sustainable practices and courses to help students become leaders in creating a more equitable, environmentally sound and prosperous future. Let’s meet Ashley, a junior who is graduating a year early, majoring in biochemistry from Appleton, Wisconsin. Ashley was interested in learning more about recycling and composting efforts when she arrived at Stevens Point and her story is incredible. Take it away, Ashley.

– Thanks, Alex. Hi, everyone. Here at UWSP, you can find me involved in multiple student organizations like Waste Management Society, 350, an environmental justice organization, and the Student Government Association where I’ve held various positions, including the Environmental and Sustainability Affairs Director, and I now currently serve as the vice president. When touring colleges, I knew Stevens Point would be my new future home. It’s hard not to fall in love with a campus that has a 280 acre field station called Schmeeckle Reserve, a beautiful tropical conservatory, over 260 student organizations to get involved with and a commitment to sustainable initiatives. When I came to campus, I quickly began to question what is recyclable when seeing a MULTI-STREAM system. I was able to start collaborating with our UWSP Office of Sustainability and a professor in the Soil and Waste program. I started doing waste audits with other students, collecting data, and eventually became an advisor for a class doing the research. Separately, I created a course with a peer to educate people on how to recycle and compost. Overall, UWSP has always been committed to sustainability. Our campus holds numerous awards. For example, UWSP was the first university to receive the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Recycling Excellence Award and the first UW, certified as a bee campus, USA School. No matter what you take on, UWSP will provide you with the tools you need to succeed. You’ll leave here with great experiences and so many memories. Now you know a bit about my story. Back to you, Alex.

– So impressive, Ashley. UWSP has been the first in many sustainable initiatives. First UW School to be certified as a bee campus USA, first to use 100% renewable electricity, first to offer composting in every academic and administrative building, first to eliminate plastic water bottles in their dining operations, and the only UW school to be a member of the Green Sports Alliance. Ashley, thank you for being a leader in creating a more sustainable future. That was awesome.