By David Hurtado
The Student Sustainability Committee is holding a contest for students who have ideas on how to make the college a more sustainable environment.
The contest, which runs until Monday, Dec. 3, accepts proposals of all kinds as long as they focus on sustainability and benefit the college community. Suggested projects can range from waste management to energy efficiency or student awareness programs. Proposals must include an estimated cost and the benefits to the college.
Sara Johnson, co-chair, Student Sustainability Committee, said the committee was hosting the contest to increase environmental awareness on campus. She also said the committee was interested in having more ideas from the student body as projects for the college.
“We did a similar contest last semester and we liked the results that we got, so we thought we’d try it again,” Johnson said.
Students who submit proposals the committee selects for development will receive a $100 CavCard which can be used at the JCCC Bookstore, Business Office or Dining Services. There is no limit to the number of cards a student can receive.
At the end of the semester, a $500 CavCard will be awarded to the most beneficial and well-developed idea.
The contest is being funded by the student “green fee,” a $1-per-credit hour fee students pay. The Student Sustainability Committee allocates those funds toward sustainability initiatives.
Other projects the committee has funded include the Hydration Stations scattered around campus, three BigBelly solar trash compactor and recycling units and Galileo’s Pavilion.
Kim Criner, sustainability education and engagement coordinator, Sustainability Initiatives, said winning a CavCard does not automatically guarantee the idea will be implemented.
“There could be ideas that come to the committee that are really excellent ideas, but down the line there could be campus service issues,” Criner said. “For certain projects, a lot of different people on campus come in to play that maybe it’s not possible to implement the idea.”
Nicholas Roudebush, co-chair, Student Sustainability Committee, said last semester’s winner, Taylor Hall, proposed solar-powered charging stations for personal electronic devices. The charging stations are expected to be built on campus throughout the fall and spring semesters. Students in the solar technology program will be constructing the panels.
“[The charging stations] will be for phones, laptops and other personal electronic devices,” Roudebush said. “It will have a regular plug-in, but it’s going to be off the grid; you can get [power] from the sun.”
The contest will take place again next semester depending on student engagement and participation in the current one.
Students interested can submit their ideas via email to sustainability@jccc.edu. Small-scale models are asked to be dropped off at Criner’s office in CC 305K.
Contact David Hurtado, features editor, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.