EKU Corbin Campus wins for environmental education projects
July 1, 2011 by clackey
Congressman Hal Rogers (center) presented the EKU Corbin Campus’ PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award to (left to right) Sherry Ruhlow, Trula Martin, Stephan Broussard, Randal Napier, Connie Hodge and Vicky Saunders.
The Eastern Kentucky University Corbin Campus won the region’s Environmental Education Project of the Month Award for July 2011.
Congressman Hal Rogers presented the PRIDE award, which recognizes several environmental education projects at the EKU Corbin Campus.
“It is great to see how volunteers and community partners have utilized inspiration from PRIDE to create sustainable projects across southern and eastern Kentucky to impact our environment for generations to come,” said Congressman Rogers. “Young students across the region now have a multitude of hands-on environmental projects like these, educating our future generations about the importance of taking personal responsibility in a desirable environment. Southern and eastern Kentucky is being restored back to its natural beauty, one project and one volunteer at a time.”
The college partnered with the Corbin Recycling Center to obtain a state recycling grant to purchase a recycling trailer. The trailer has made recycling more convenient and successful on campus. About 75 percent of EKU Corbin students, faculty and staff participate in the recycling program to some degree.
The college also constructed a rain garden to filter and slow rain run-off from the parking lot. Students and community members helped develop the site, which now includes a walking path, bench and post rails to prevent cars backing into the area. The project created a hands-on learning opportunity for the EKU Corbin conservation class and for local middle and high schools.
In May, the rain garden and recycling program were learning tools during an Environmental Leadership Workshop hosted by the college’s PRIDE Club. Eighteen Corbin Middle School students joined college students, college staff and representatives of environmental organizations in activities and an open roundtable discussion on environmental topics.
The PRIDE Environmental Education Project of the Month program rewards creative, effective ways of promoting environment awareness and stewardship.
PRIDE is a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental cleanup and education efforts in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky.
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