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OXFORD, Miss. – The Office of Campus Sustainability at the University of Mississippi and the city of Oxford are accepting nominations for the 2012 Sustainability Leadership Awards. Recipients of the SLAs are celebrated at a ceremony during Green Week, scheduled for April 15-22.
“The Sustainability Leadership Awards were created to recognize individuals who are stepping up to really take on sustainable initiatives,” said Jim Morrison, director of the UM Office of Campus Sustainability. “It was created to inspire others and to showcase the practices that are already being established. It’s a great way for us to bring awareness to the sustainable projects that are already going on in our community.”
The SLA program, in its third year, is a university and citywide effort to spotlight sustainable leaders and initiatives both on and off campus in areas ranging from green design and recycling to the preservation of ecology and biodiversity. Those eligible for one of the eight awards include any individual, group or organization that has completed a sustainable project or is working on an ongoing project in Lafayette County.
“When it comes to sustainability, the boundaries between the university and city are not really observed, because they’re issues we all face,” said Anne McCauley, project coordinator for the Office of Campus Sustainability. “It’s important that we both recognize leaders who are contributors to initiatives that are broader than just the city or the university. We’re looking for projects that involve anything from energy efficiency and waste reduction to community involvement and engagement, such as the community garden.”
Past SLA winners have been involved in initiatives such as the UM Gameday Recycling program, which diverted nearly two tons of plastic and aluminum from landfills during the 2010 football season, and the implementation and maintenance of a children’s garden at the Oxford-Lafayette County United Way Boys and Girls Club. Other winners have helped promote sustainable practices through education, both in university and K-12 settings.
“I think it’s important to recognize people in the community for the good they are doing so that they know they’re actually making an impact,” said Megan Prescott, of the Oxford mayor’s office. “It also encourages others to consider what they can do in turn to support community sustainability efforts.”
To make a nomination, visit http://olemiss.edu/green and submit a completed form online, or email the form to megan@oxfordms.net. Nomination forms are due by 5 p.m. April 6. Winners will be announced during Green Week 2012 at the Sustainability Leadership Awards Ceremony and Green Week Keynote at 5:30 p.m. April 18 at the Powerhouse in Oxford. The public is invited.
For more information on the Sustainability Leadership Awards and Green Week, visit http://olemiss.edu/green.