Earth Awareness Day events coming to SSC April 17th.

Submitted Deborah Smith

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College (SSC) recently received recognition from Governor Pat Quinn and the Green Governments Coordinating Council as a “Bronze Level Compact School” within the Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact program.  SSC learned of the achievement in a letter from the Governor’s Office that stated, “After reviewing your original pledged commitments and your recognition application, the Council has determined that you have fulfilled all requirements of the Bronze Level compact. This designation serves as a signal to your community and peer institutions that you stand as a leader in higher education sustainability.”

SSC has ramped up sustainability efforts on campus in the past several years through a Sustainability Committee, which has also recently combined efforts with a newly formed Green Club, headed by Student Trustee Rebecca Garcia.

“I’m very excited about the initiative South Suburban College is taking to be a trendsetter, not just with our sustainability efforts, but with every effort to service our students and our community,” said Student Trustee Garcia.  “Being recognized as a bronze level institution is not only a great accomplishment; it is also a reminder that we are moving in the right direction!”

The next order of business for the SSC Sustainability Committee and Green Club is hosting a 2nd annual SSC Earth Awareness Day scheduled for Wednesday, April 17th from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Six presenters will be on hand to give hour-long presentations as follows:

 9:00 a.m.           Woodcarvers–utilizing cut down trees

10:00 a.m.        Importance of Worms

11:00 a.m.        Composting

12:00 noon       AFT–“green” cleaning and supplies

1:00 p.m.           Tilapia Farmer–hydroponics and his raised garden

2:00 p.m.          SSC Faculty Eric Myers and David Shepherd–environmental issues and value of trees

 Several vendors will be in attendance promoting “green” products and products made from recycled items in the Atrium.  SSC will also be collecting eyeglasses, cell phones, e-waste, and possibly old prescription drugs.  The SSC Student Green Committee will be selling “dirt” cupcakes. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the free event.

The Sustainability Committee was established in 2011 to coordinate SSC’s efforts in sustainability leadership within its community, and has adopted the following vision statement:

South Suburban College strives to be a leader in sustainability efforts.  This mission is achieved in several ways.  College initiatives include, but are not limited to, renovating College buildings for energy efficiency, purchasing a percentage of renewable energy and eco-friendly products, encouraging campus programs that incorporate reducing, reusing and recycling, providing contemporary training for the green economy and supplying sustainability information and forums to the College district.  Our most important goal is to educate our staff and students to practice environmental stewardship at home and in the community.

SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.  For more Earth Awareness Day information, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2212.

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By CCNM

I have functioned as a Business and Media Consultant over the past sixteen years and spent many years developing my capacity to function in our ever evolving use of technology, communication, education and training.