Last Thursday, January 26,
Professor of Political Science Dr. Bill Gibson and I had the very
distinct pleasure of attending the annual River Star Businesses
Recognition Luncheon. Virginia Wesleyan College was acknowledged during
the program as one of the finest environmental stewards on the Elizabeth
River, receiving two-star Achievement Level recognition (view photos).
River Star Businesses is a signature program of the Elizabeth River Project,
recognizing organizations that voluntarily reduce pollution and create
or conserve wildlife habitat enhancement. Since its inception in 1997,
participating businesses and government facilities have voluntarily
reduced pollution by 331 million pounds and restored 1,787 acres of
wildlife habitat on the river.
Virginia Wesleyan faculty, staff
and students have long been engaged in unique opportunities to explore
and support environmental issues, from the creation of the Student
Environmental Awareness League in the 1980s, to the installation of
beehives, bat boxes, and bluebird boxes on campus, and the creation of
an Earth and Environmental Sciences major. The establishment of the
College’s President’s Environmental Issues Council (PEIC) has led to further support for environmental projects, including challenge grants for students and faculty.
These
efforts and more resulted in Virginia Wesleyan’s designation as a
two-star Achievement Level River Star Business. The College was
specifically cited by the River Restoration Review Committee for
accomplishments and initiatives such as focusing on energy efficiency,
the installation of a green roof on Smithdeal Hall (2006), storm water
management, solar panels, wildlife habitat enhancement, recognition from
the Virginia Department of Natural Science as a natural heritage
resource for an old-growth American Beech forest on campus (1992),
designation as a bird sanctuary through a Virginia Beach City Ordinance
(1990), installation of beehives on campus (2001), composting practices,
maintenance of native plant pallets, and the establishment and
maintenance of the Wilson Arboretum (1994), where trees are planted each
year in honor of retiring faculty. Our efforts will be further enhanced
this fall with the opening of the new Greer Environmental Sciences Center.
Thank
you to our entire campus community and the PEIC for your continued
efforts, and special thanks in particular to Dr. Bill Gibson for taking
the lead on earning this designation for the College.
We are proud to be recognized by the Elizabeth River Project for our environmental commitment. Congratulations!
