The summit will be held at 91短视频’s Suter Science Center (1194 Park Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia) with events starting at 9 a.m. It aims to bring together students, educators, and community members to explore undergraduate research, innovative initiatives, and real-world solutions.

Students will attend from Sustainable Shenandoah Valley’s five member institutions: Blue Ridge Community College, Bridgewater College, 91短视频, James Madison University, and Mary Baldwin University.

鈥淏y celebrating the impactful work already happening across the region, this event seeks to inspire new ideas, partnerships, and pathways toward a more just and sustainable future,鈥� the summit鈥檚 website says.

A schedule on the website lists presentations by local students and officials, posters and networking opportunities, and a keynote speech by John C. Jones.

Jones is an assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability at Virginia Commonwealth University. His main research interests surround the intersection of urban food system development, urban food insecurity, local governance, and the challenges facing America鈥檚 cities. In recent years, he has begun to research interventions to mitigate college student food insecurity. 

91短视频 students Ciela Acosta, Kate Stutzman, Jenna Oostland, and Tara Cahill are among those who will deliver presentations at the summit.

Acosta will present on examples of campus organizing and advocacy that have taken place on 91短视频鈥檚 campus, including bell ringing for Palestine and direct action for sustainability, according to the summit’s website. Her presentation will include an empowerment discussion for students to be able to notice where inequity is present on their own campuses and be able to effectively and peacefully call for change.

Stutzman, Oostland, and Cahill will lead a comprehensive analysis of 91短视频’s carbon emissions for the 2024-25 academic year in accordance to the university’s climate goals. Emissions from a number of sources are considered including, but not limited to, food production and waste, purchased electricity, natural gas, fertilizer and pesticide use, student and faculty travel, and 91短视频’s solar grid.

Register for the summit .

For more information, visit the event鈥檚 website .

Scroll down to the end for an embedded video of the convocation.

Plus, watch the video below

The year is 1946. The U.S. is one year removed from World War II, Perry Como’s “Prisoner of Love” tops the Billboard charts, and the average price of gasoline is 21 cents per gallon. In Harrisonburg, Virginia, 91短视频鈥攖hen known as Eastern Mennonite College鈥攈osts its inaugural Faculty Conference (the perennial event would add the “staff” part of its name in 1979) from Aug. 26-29.

Reading aloud from the program of that first conference, Amy Springer Hartsell, executive advisor to the president, shared that the scheduled events included Bible study and devotions, talks on vital school subjects and roundtable discussions, and action on a motion to “send a hearty welcome to newly appointed members of faculty and staff.”

“There are some similarities, I think, that span these nearly 80 years,” she said in her welcome remarks at the Fall 2025 Faculty Staff Conference on Tuesday morning. “Our Faculty Staff Conference purpose statement talks about energizing ourselves for a new academic year through worship, welcoming new employees, reconnecting with colleagues from across the university, and engaging in thought-provoking input, conversation, fun, and fellowship.”

鈥淭his is a time to gather, engage, reset, and start anew,” she added, “not only for ourselves, but certainly, and perhaps most importantly, for our students.鈥�

Keep scrolling for photos and snippets from this year’s fall conference!

Faculty and staff members reconnected over get-to-know-you bingo cards. Mary Davis (Admissions) and Trina Trotter Nussbaum (Center for Interfaith Engagement) won 91短视频-branded merch, while Jessica Hostetler (Enrollment) won a lunch with Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus.

Striking a tone of hope and resilience, 91短视频 Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, who began serving in her role on July 1, delivered the presidential address to those gathered at Martin Chapel and online on Tuesday. “We know that 91短视频 is not ordinary,” she said. “We know this is a learning community that is noble in its accomplishments and exceptional in its ability to infuse compassion.”

“We can overcome the challenges before us because we believe that 91短视频 is worth the investment,” she continued. “I also know that we want to sustain and grow 91短视频 for the importance it has in 2025, in 2035, and in 2075. We want the gift of academic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith for our students and their grandchildren. There’s a legacy here that we see ourselves continuing and even as it evolves, even as it changes, even as it adapts, we see the vision of the future.”

Reflecting the 2025-2026 university theme of environmental sustainability, the theme of this year’s conference was “Sustain Together.” Gloria Rhodes, professor of peacebuilding and conflict studies at 91短视频’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, led a plenary session on social sustainability.

Later on, Jonathan McRay MA 鈥�13 (conflict transformation), sustainability advisor, moderated a panel discussion on environmental sustainability with 91短视频 professors Doug Graber Neufeld (Natural Sciences), Steven Johnson (Visual & Communication Arts), and Jim Leaman (Business & Leadership).

Leaman encouraged everyone to find one new way each month to care for the Earth and all its creatures鈥攁nd to document it. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing how that transforms you over time,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or me, it has given me hope for what鈥檚 possible and given me comfort in knowing that I have a choice, that I have agency, and that I can make a difference.鈥�

Gathering together in the Northlawn Dining Hall for lunch, faculty and staff members piled their plates high at a taco bar and celebrated new employees who have joined the university over the past year. Ryan Good, director of the 91短视频 Washington Semester, gave an overview of the recently rebranded D.C. program and highlighted its student outcomes.

On Wednesday afternoon, following a series of faculty and staff learning sessions held throughout the morning, employees hit the dance floor in the Old Common Grounds space for line dancing lessons led by Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus. Participants learned the moves to the “Electric Slide,” “Cha Cha Slide” (pictured above), and “Wobble” dances.

“It鈥檚 really about moving together, making mistakes, learning from them, and trying again,” Dycus told those dancing. “There’s no judgment here.”

Members of the Fall 2025 Faculty Staff Conference planning team included the Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, Dr. Tynisha Willingham, Jen Jones, Sara Wittig, and Amy Springer Hartsell.

Thanks to Everence for sponsoring the coffee break, Park View Federal Credit Union for sponsoring morning refreshments, Pioneer College Caterers for providing the lunches, facilities management for setting up room spaces, and everyone else who contributed to helping make the conference a success!

This quandary led Abraham Mekonnen, a rising senior at 91短视频 majoring in computer science, along with a team of three students from Queens College in New York City, to develop FootPrint Mayhem, a sustainability-focused platform that encourages and rewards users for minimizing their carbon footprint in creative ways through streaks, games, and points. Users can track their daily carbon footprint, take quizzes to learn eco-friendly habits, earn points and streaks for consistent actions, and compete with friends on a leaderboard. Although the platform is no longer active, it was available at .

鈥淭hink Duolingo, but for saving the planet,鈥� said Mekonnen, who is spending the summer in New York City as a software engineer intern at Morgan Stanley. 鈥淲e asked ourselves, 鈥楬ow can we help people learn while having fun at the same time?鈥欌��

Mekonnen and his team won the 鈥淏est Use of Defang鈥� prize for their creation, besting more than 500 undergraduate students from around the world at . Defang is a tool used to develop, deploy, and debug hackathon projects. The annual 36-hour coding competition was hosted by Harvard University students from Oct. 11-13, 2024, on their campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and brings students together to “collaborate, innovate, and build awesome projects in a short amount of time.” 鈥淲inning never crossed my mind,鈥� Mekonnen said. 鈥淚 was competing against people with vast knowledge from all these great and wonderful schools, so I thought there was no way I could win.鈥�

But win they did. Over an intense 36-hour period, Mekonnen and his team worked tirelessly to develop an idea for a project, design it, and present it to judges. 鈥淚 think we probably only slept for two to four hours during that time,鈥� he said.

鈥淭his recognition from HackHarvard is incredibly motivating,鈥� Mekonnen wrote in a post after the event. 鈥淚t validates our belief that technology can make sustainability accessible and enjoyable for everyone.鈥�

He said the win has already opened new doors for him, helping him land his current internship at Morgan Stanley. 鈥淭he computer science field right now is hectic,鈥� Mekonnen said. 鈥淓ven finding interviews is hard, so this has been a wonderful resume builder.鈥�

He was also invited to present on a panel at the Horizon Conference, held at James Madison University in November, which brings together changemakers, innovators, and leaders passionate about tackling global challenges and fostering inclusive growth.

Mekonnen, who moved to Harrisonburg from Ethiopia at 12 years old, serves as president of the Computer Science Career Club and is a member of the International Students Organization at 91短视频. He credits professors Dr. Daniel Showalter, Dr. Stefano Colafranceschi, and Charles Cooley with providing the foundational programming knowledge that helped him succeed. 

He said he hopes to inspire others at 91短视频 the same way he was inspired by recent alumna Hebron Mekuria 鈥�24, a computer science major who also won a hackathon鈥�Black Wings Hacks in 2023鈥攁nd interned at Morgan Stanley. 

鈥淧eople at 91短视频 might not think they can win and do great things,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 hope my story encourages other students to push themselves beyond what they thought was possible.鈥�

The next HackHarvard competition will be held from Oct. 3-5, 2025. For more information about the event, visit:

Laura Ruth 鈥�09 and Rebecca Shelly 鈥�14 are spreading joy and kindness through the power of flowers, while making a positive impact on the planet.

In March, the 91短视频 alums launched , a nonprofit in Harrisonburg, Virginia, that gives event flowers another life by refreshing them and donating them to people in need. The dahlia-loving duo collects locally grown flowers and used floral arrangements from weddings, funerals and other events, repurposes them into new bouquets, and delivers them to nursing homes, hospitals, schools, counseling centers and other organizations in the community.

The idea for Friendly City Florals started late last year. When Ruth鈥檚 dad passed away in December, Shelly鈥攚ho had lost her own father just a few years prior鈥攚as there to support her. The two stay-at-home moms began talking about all the bouquets they received, and realized there was a way to reuse the flowers to brighten someone else鈥檚 day.

By reusing flowers that would otherwise be tossed into the trash, Friendly City Florals is reducing the environmental impact from events and diverting a significant amount of floral waste from landfills. According to , a staggering 400 pounds of trash and 63 tons of carbon dioxide emissions are created at the average wedding. Friendly City Florals reuses all parts of donated floral arrangements, including the flowers, floral foam, wire, vases and ribbons. 

Shelly, who graduated from 91短视频 with a psychology degree, has worked in various segments of the wedding industry for the past 10 years and seen firsthand the amount of floral waste that can result from weddings. 鈥淲e want to change the narrative of wedding waste, especially with flowers,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e would love to help people rethink that part of planning their big day.鈥�

Ruth, who graduated from 91短视频 with a degree in social work, is a licensed clinical social worker and serves on the board of . She said she鈥檚 seen the positive effect that their bouquets can have on someone鈥檚 mental health and well-being. 鈥淭hey bring so much joy and are so uplifting for people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t feels so good to be a little part of that happiness in their day.鈥�

Shelly said the 91短视频 and Harrisonburg communities have played such a major part in their lives that 鈥渋t feels special to be able to give back.鈥�

鈥楶art of a movement鈥�

Both Ruth and Shelly have roots that run deep into the 91短视频 soil. Each of them met their husbands (Ben ’09 and Isaac ’09) on campus and come from families with plenty of alumni. Shelly鈥檚 sister and Ruth鈥檚 two siblings graduated from 91短视频. Shelly鈥檚 mom, Lisa Crist, worked at 91短视频 for 37 years, while both of Ruth鈥檚 parents are alumni.

At 91短视频, Ruth and Shelly found their roar. They said their passion for sustainability and for building community was jump-started while students. 

Shelly worked at the dining hall during her first and second years at 91短视频 and said that seeing people compost their food and napkins helped remind her of 鈥渢he little instances throughout your day that you can find to be sustainable.鈥� 

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 have to be all or nothing,鈥� Shelly said. 鈥淭he little bits add up along the way.鈥�

Ruth said her passion for giving back was shaped by her experiences helping organize Take Back the Night at 91短视频 in 2009, interning at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board, and volunteering at nonprofits such as Patchwork Pantry and Mercy House during her time at 91短视频. 鈥淭hese formative experiences sparked my dedication to serving our community and driving meaningful change,鈥� she said.

Friendly City Florals is sponsored by local businesses and grassroots donors, and receives help from many friends, family and community members who volunteer their time and share their expertise.

The nonprofit has been featured on the podcast, in a widely shared video from climate educator , and in . Ruth and Shelly are in touch with a couple daytime talk shows about sharing their story. They look forward to seeing a shout-out to the nonprofit in Reader鈥檚 Digest magazine in its February issue.

Ruth said people from all over the country have contacted them asking how they can help out in their own communities. 鈥淚t鈥檚 heartwarming to know we鈥檙e inspiring others to be part of a movement to recycle, reuse, and spread joy and kindness,鈥� she said.

To learn more about Friendly City Florals and find out ways to get involved, visit:

Not just any weeds, mind you, but a wild edible garden that the students visited on a 鈥渟ustainability tour鈥� around Bluffton, Ohio. 

鈥淭hese weeds are what will save the world …They have all the nutritional value you need,鈥� senior Luke Hertzler said, recounting the words of their tour guide. 

He organized the 91短视频 contingent, which joined with students and alumni from other Anabaptist-affiliated colleges and universities for the Sustainability Alumni Network鈥檚 fall retreat. The attendees visited local farm-to-table businesses, went on an educational meadow walk, and discussed how to include environmental sustainability into their life鈥檚 vocation.

Hertzler felt 鈥渢hankfulness that we were all able to gather together from our various communities, and share together, and commune together and converse together.鈥� He especially valued the ideas generated for including sustainability principles in his future career in ministry.

The Sustainability Alumni Network hosts a retreat each semester at rotating locations 鈥� it was in Harrisonburg last spring. 91短视频 alum Harrison Horst 鈥�18 co-founded the group with Goshen College graduate Cecilia Lapp Stoltzfus in 2017.

鈥淲e had collaborated before on fossil fuel divestment [at our respective institutions] and were hopeful that establishing some sort of network could lead to further conversations, future collaborations, and real advocacy work,鈥� Horst said. 

Currently, the network includes graduates of 91短视频, Goshen College, Bluffton University, Fresno Pacific University, Hesston College, and Canadian Mennonite University. Their goal is to support one another and current students in building community around climate advocacy and environmental sustainability.

鈥淥ne of my initial hopes was that SAN could provide resources to sustainability club leadership at our alma maters, thereby creating a channel for institutional wisdom,鈥� Horst said. 鈥淐ecilia and I both felt like the connections and skills we developed during our time in college should be put to use rather than simply left behind.鈥�

Besides the biannual meetups, SAN also puts out a quarterly newsletter and holds monthly video conferences, which Horst joins from his current post as a teaching intern at China West Normal University in Nanchong, China. 

Recently, the network established the SAN Investing Collective LLC, 鈥渨hich will allow us to pool our money and collectively invest in sustainability projects of our choice,鈥� Horst said. Their first project in the works is a solar panel installation planned for the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana.

Sustainability and creation care are at the core of life at 91短视频, both in student groups like the Cycling Club or Earthkeepers and in academic studies of the social, economic and political aspects of environmental sustainability.

Recycling staff and student workers at 91短视频 collect 70 tons annually of recyclable materials from 24 campus recycling points using custom-built bicycles pulling specially-designed, eight-foot trailers that can each haul about 300 pounds at a time.

Student workers and volunteers transport 300-500 pounds of dining hall scraps several times a week across campus via bicycle to the compost piles, which are located behind the Suter Science Center and monitored by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. This initiative reduces waste and supplies the campus gardens with rich compost.

More than five million students and staff at 300 colleges in the United States and Canada participated in the eight-week RecycleMania competition, which was designed to educate and challenge university campuses, . Together they 鈥減revented the release of 99,254 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere, which is equivalent to preventing the annual emissions from 20,895 of cars.鈥�

鈥淩ecycleMania is a fun way to communicate with the campus community about recycling and issues surrounding recycling,鈥� said recycling crew leader Matthew Freed.

During the competition his team invited students, staff and faculty to listen to a about the state of recycling after China decided to stop taking U.S. waste a year ago, and to an album recorded only using plastic material: .

They also pointed to recent reports about the plastic crisis such as the , the , and 鈥�,鈥� Freed said.

One goal of the contest was to raise awareness about the impact of small changes to individual behavior, including choosing alternatives to single-use plastics.

鈥淚f one-third of the students and staff reached through RecycleMania used a reusable cup instead of a single-use plastic bottle, it would result in removing about 300 million plastic bottles from the waste stream,鈥� Recyclemania says. 鈥淭hat works out to be about 8.3 million pounds of plastic bottles, which is equivalent to the weight of 25,000 common bottlenose dolphins. Three hundred million bottles would also go around the Earth one and half times.鈥�

As a Top Ten finisher, 91短视频 was awarded the grand prize of a one-year license to equip two buildings on campus with competition sponsor 鈥檚 energy monitoring hardware and software.

The accomplishment was particularly notable. “As a first-time participant, 91短视频 placed solidly in the top 10 reducers, consuming 21% less electricity in just three weeks,鈥� said Lucid CEO Vladi Shunturov. 鈥淭he commitment from 91短视频鈥檚 students and staff is truly inspiring.”

The win is 鈥渁n affirmation of the 91短视频’s long-running commitment to reducing our school’s energy use,鈥� said campus sustainability coordinator .

The end result of the CCN competition not only raised awareness about individual consumer habits, but resulted in a substantial savings of resources and finances. The competition monitored 1,374 buildings used by approximately 345,000 student, faculty and staff, and reported a total savings of 1.9 million kilowatt hours, 394,000 gallons of water, and $290,000.

According to the CCN website, this is the equivalent of removing 182 homes from the grid for one year, saving 1.5 million one-liter bottles of water, and averting 2.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide.

CCN, in its fifth year, is hosted by the at the , Lucid, the and the .

Campus ‘climate’ contributes

From March 8-28, ten campus buildings were monitored for energy usage. Roselawn came out on top with a 40.2 percent reduction, followed by Maplewood (39.7 percent) and Elmwood (37.3), Hartzler Library (28) and Cedarwood (23.2).

The results make sense to Lantz-Trissel: such as Roselawn, and the LEED-certified dormitories 鈥渁re carefully designed to heat and cool efficiently in small zones, where older buildings have fewer thermostats and less flexibility and response to users or outside temperature changes.鈥�

However, plays a large role in this success. 鈥淲e also have a strong community ethic to conserve and care for creation, which means in a competition the community responds to the challenge to reduce energy or recycle and 91短视频 usually outperforms our peer schools.鈥�

, whose job is to implement energy management, efficiency and sustainability measures as 91短视频鈥檚 building automation coordinator, had some idea of how competitive faculty, staff and residents were getting when he heard some voicing disappointment during March that 鈥渢heir building wasn鈥檛 doing better.鈥�

That bodes well for next year, Sachs said, when he plans to implement a social media campaign to raise awareness and get more people involved.

The competition also includes regional sub-competitions, such as the Big Ten Unplugged, the New York Negawatt Challenge, the California State University Conservation League, and the Campus ConseRVAtion Nationals, featuring three Richmond area schools.

Sachs hopes to invite Shenandoah Valley area universities and colleges to compete next year. He鈥檚 also pondering a friendly rivalry among Mennonite colleges.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to watch the influence of CCN continue to grow,鈥� said Chelsea Hodge, director of programs at Lucid. 鈥淓very year, more and more students and staff prove through CCN that they are committed to using behavior change tools to achieve short and long term reductions in their campuses鈥� carbon footprints.鈥�

Publicizing user habits

The grand prize of Lucid hardware and software will complement the monitoring system already present on campus, according to Sachs. Preliminary plans will enable a more public showcase of campus sustainability efforts, with television screens projecting constant data to building users.

鈥淲e were planning to place one monitor in the , which gets a lot of foot traffic and would be a nice feature for that building鈥檚 users,鈥� Sachs said, adding that he鈥檇 also like to track energy use and trends in the newly renovated building.

That feedback will help users adjust their behaviors, 鈥渕uch the same way a fitness monitoring app might help a person be more active, lose weight, or work to improve in a sport,鈥� says Lantz-Trissel. 鈥淏ut in just the same way as a fitness app, data monitoring is only so useful, and improvement is up to the habits and behaviors of the building’s occupants.鈥�

91短视频 has a history of engaging its competitive spirit towards sustainability efforts: the campus recently , and has .

Last year, the university was awarded a silver ranking by the , based on its sustainability initiatives in operations, curriculum, planning and other areas.

But not in 2015. This year, 91短视频 surged to the top of the Virginia recycling competitors 鈥� regaining the crown it has previously held in 2008.

91短视频 , with a recycling rate of 45.025%, a 4% increase from last year.

鈥淭his is impressive, given that the field of competing schools has more than tripled in the past seven years,鈥� says 91短视频 recycling coordinator . 鈥淭his win highlights that 91短视频 is a leader in and among colleges and universities in the state of Virginia.鈥�

Freed works to collect recycling with the help of student volunteers and the , a mobilizing force on campus and in the Harrisonburg community since the 1970s. Recycling is . (This initiative was started by former recycling coordinator , now campus sustainability coordinator.)

During the eight-week competition promoting waste reduction in campus communities, schools reported recycling and trash data, which was then ranked according to recyclables per capita, amount of total recyclables, and least amount of combined trash and recycling, according to the organization鈥檚 website.

To compare with other regional schools, James Madison University finished 77th with a 39% recycling rate, University of Virginia (UVA) finished 119th with a 32% recycling rate, and Mary Baldwin College finished 226th with a 7% recycling rate.

Antioch University of Seattle, this year’s winner, finished with a recycling rate of 96.7%.

91短视频 was second behind The College of William and Mary in 2013 and 2014, and third behind William and Mary and UVA in 2012.

During the Recyclemania competition, the recycling team also hosts weekly competitions, from which are drawn six semi-finalist individuals to compete in the RecycleMania Olympithon Extravaganza Yes! The champion is chosen through a tripartite points system, comprised of scores accumulated through an obstacle course race, a recycling weight-guessing game, and consistency in participation over the eight-week competition. This year鈥檚 winner was Robert Propst.

For information on 91短视频鈥檚 sustainability efforts 鈥� including and 鈥� visit 91短视频鈥檚 .

Shantz had two choices: tear it down or renovate it. After consulting with, as Shantz puts it, 鈥渢he one-man maintenance department of Gordie Shantz,鈥� the decision was made.

Under his direction, youth group volunteers gutted the building, put on a fresh coat of paint, and turned it into a storage shed. The oldest permanent structure at Highland Retreat still stands.

This is a common problem among many camps with long histories and old buildings, Shantz realized. Maintenance teams must keep an eye on budgets and eco-friendly choices, while still being sensitive to architectural history.

Thus came the origin of a recent workshop, 鈥淣ew Wine in Old Wineskins,鈥� for maintenance teams from camps in the eastern region of the (MCA). The informative visit to 91短视频 to learn about sustainability initiatives was facilitated by Ed Lehman, assistant physical plant director.

MCA, which was founded in 1960, is, 鈥渁 clearinghouse for directing and promoting Christian camping among Anabaptist/Mennonite conferences and congregations around the United States and Canada.鈥� Thirty-one North American camps are members, including Camp Men-O-Lan, the first Mennonite camp, located near Quakertown, Pennsylvania.

While the scale of 91短视频鈥檚 renovations are much larger than that required by the camps, 91短视频 representatives, including building automation coordinator Greg Sachs ’03 and sustainability coordinator l ’00, could provide general trends that translate to a smaller scale.

After a Powerpoint presentation highlighting significant renovation projects at Roselawn, Suter Science Center, and the two LEED-certified dormitories, participants had a brisk discussion about issues related to their specific facilities: , which first began hosting guests in 1935, in New York; Highland Retreat, dating from 1958; and the newest facility to be represented, in Toano, Virginia, which started in 1984. A representative from also attended.

Camp Deerpark, which includes new buildings as well as some older structures that predate the current organization by several years, has a heating system fueled by a large wood stove and generators that run on overdrive during the cold northern winters, said maintenance director Sean McConaghay.

Among the valuable bits of information that Shantz gleaned from the visit is 91短视频鈥檚 20 percent cost model on new projects. For example, if a new building costs $100, then renovation for an old building should only be considered if the total cost is $80 or less.

Shantz also favored 91短视频鈥檚 five-to-seven-year payback model, in which new equipment is expected to return the investment within a range of five to seven years.

For Shantz and others involved in the important but often overlooked job of keeping camps functioning and aesthetically attractive, the time to sit down, learn and share with other professionals was valuable 鈥� regardless of whether the discussion was about replacing a lightbulb, he said, or installing new toilets.

As is the case with some rural camps, the opportunity to acquire adjacent new property sometimes comes with old buildings 鈥� and a price tag. That is the case at Highland Retreat, which has recently been offered a nearby property at a favorable price, but with an old but solid building that may need renovation. Shantz has formed a committee to discuss potential uses, he said, adding that 91短视频鈥檚 sustainability initiatives could be a helpful model for Highland Retreat in this instance, and in any future construction project.

Wrong.

In fact, the United States military combats terrorism and climate change. Both are huge threats to national security.

In this week鈥檚 Suter Science Seminar on the 91短视频 campus, professor connected two related issues that are central to the university鈥檚 educational mission and values: peacebuilding and sustainability. A research professor at 91短视频鈥檚 , Schirch also serves as director of human security at the Washington, DC-based , which works to advance sustainable peace around the world.

Schirch鈥檚 perspective on climate change and global stability is bolstered by her wide travels; she has conducted conflict assessments and participated in peacebuilding planning alongside local colleagues in over 20 countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Kenya, Ghana, and Fiji. She earned a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University and is the author of a number of books and other publications.

After briefly explaining the science of global warming, Schirch focused on its political and social effects, rather than arguing for its existence. While much of the American public has varying responses and opinions to the concept of climate change, the view that global climate change is happening is uncontested in the Pentagon, as well as among the majority of the scientific community, she said.

The human response to climate change can be dramatic, Schirch said. When drought caused by global warming mixes with corrupt governments and religious extremism, terrorism can result.

In fact, retired naval commander Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, has argued that the conditions caused by global climate change will 鈥渆xtend the war on terror.鈥� Lopez was among 11 retired military leaders contributing to a 2007 report, 鈥�.” Their findings and recommendations to the Department of Defense acknowledge the serious implications of political and social instability caused by the effects of climate change, Schirch said. (Schirch also referenced a 2014 report, 鈥�,鈥� in which an expanded advisory board of 16 military leaders echoed the earlier findings.)

North Americans may be less aware of the implications of climate change, Schirch said, because 鈥渨e actually are living in one of the most climate stable regions of the world.鈥� Nations in the northern part of the globe are less affected by climate change. Ironically, these are the nations that tend to be the worst polluters of the atmosphere.

“As the sea levels rise in the decades and centuries ahead, there will be inundation of coastal areas with loss of settled areas and agriculture land, threats to water, and spread of infectious disease will stress the region,” Schirch said. The result will be forced migrations out of the most affected regions as land becomes unlivable.

Some activists claim that 鈥渃limate migrants should have the right to move to the countries from which all these bad greenhouse gasses are coming from,鈥� she added.

Though climate change poses serious threats, Schirch concluded with some hopeful ideas. 鈥淐limate change is a source of conflict, but it also has potential to be a motivator for collaboration and peacebuilding,鈥� she said. Climate change has potential to bring humanity together with one common goal. She added that the Mennonite tradition has always supported the goals of peace and creation care, even before climate change was a problem.

In a formal response after the seminar, biology professor Jim Yoder described global climate change as a 鈥渨icked鈥� problem, a thorny and complex issue that cannot easily be pinned down or solved. Ray Gingerich, emeritus professor of theology and ethics, reminded the audience that both a top-down and bottom-up response are required.

Schirch鈥檚 lecture was part of 91短视频鈥檚 annual , made possible by the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology. Six seminars by experts in their field will take place this semester. Lectures are free and open to the public.

91短视频 was among 173 schools nationwide named , based on commitments to greening every level of their operations 鈥� from energy usage to recycling to food sourcing to curriculum.

鈥淥ne of the things that makes 91短视频 different is that sustainability at 91短视频 is not just a grassroots effort,鈥� said professor in a recent interview with 91短视频 news services. While there are certainly such efforts on campus, the commitment to sustainability has developed as a result of official 91短视频 support.

Key step was staffing

The creation of a recycling coordinator position in 2005 was a big step along the way. , who held that position for five years until becoming 91短视频鈥檚 coordinator, worked to increase campus community awareness of recycling.

He started by tracking what 91短视频 was already doing. He found the campus recycled about 20% of its waste. He and his work-study students introduced better signage about recycling, as well as new color-coded bins into residence halls, academic buildings and faculty offices to make proper waste disposal easy and convenient. Lantz-Trissel also included recycling education in the first-year orientation program. Now, nine years later, the percentage of waste that 91短视频 recycles is closer to 50%.

As far as Lantz-Trissel knows, 91短视频 is the only university that picks up recyclables entirely by bicycle. This came about through a cost-saving decision, he said, when the pickup truck used for recycling rounds needed a new clutch: 鈥淭o replace the clutch was going to be $650. I said that for $550 I鈥檒l get a bike and trailer and you can sell the truck.鈥�

Recycling by bicycle

91短视频 agreed to give recycling by bicycle a try, although his supervisor was skeptical that it would last more than six months.

鈥�91短视频 is the perfect size for using bikes and trailers,鈥� said current recycling crew leader . 鈥淭he geography of the campus also helps considerably.鈥�

Freed collects the majority of 91短视频’s recyclables from uphill sites, enabling him to coast down to where these need to be deposited for trucking away. 鈥淲e actually don鈥檛 carry any heavy loads uphill鈥t鈥檚 mainly just good brakes to keep the loads from running away from us,鈥� said Lantz-Trissel with a laugh.

The recycling crew consists of at least one work-study student who is always 鈥減assionate about what they are doing,鈥� said Lantz-Trissel. 鈥淭hey like getting on a bike and peddling around recycling.鈥�

Earthkeepers club

Besides the recycling work-study position, the heaviest student involvement with campus sustainability efforts comes from the environmental club .

鈥淲e get volunteers to collect compost from the cafeteria Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,鈥� explained co-president and senior Melinda Norris.

鈥淵ou have to have people who are reliable,鈥� in order for collecting compost via volunteers to work, said Lantz-Trissel. 鈥淚 have never talked to another university who has students that have been that committed to composting鈥sually it ends up failing and people in the facilities end up handling it.鈥�

Other Earthkeepers projects include providing clotheslines in residence hall laundry rooms, sponsoring Food and Farming Week (a week of cafeteria meals in the fall based around local, in-season foods), and installing timers on the campus tennis courts that turn the lights on for a designated time-frame.

In the spring semester, Earthkeepers helps the recycling crew in 鈥�,鈥� an annual intercollegiate recycling competition. 91短视频 has placed in the top 25% each year.

Presidential support

sits on the board of the and has signed the statement.

Recently, 91短视频 became one of the first 25 institutions of higher education in 10 states to commit to 鈥�,鈥� aimed at reducing or eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances.

Perhaps the greatest testament to the 91短视频 community鈥檚 commitment to increased sustainability, though, is the .

鈥淓ach institution seeking reaffirmation of Accreditation is required to develop a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP),鈥� states the website for the. 鈥淭he QEP describes a carefully designed and focused course of action that addresses a well-defined topic or issue(s) related to enhancing student learning.鈥�

For 91短视频, that topic has been strengthening 鈥渃are for God鈥檚 creation by enhancing our knowledge, values, and actions鈥� and increasing 鈥渟ustainable practices at the university.鈥�

Campus-wide through QEP

The QEP 鈥渉elps spread sustainability to students who would not necessarily be drawn to that,鈥� said Yoder, a member of the Peace With Creation committee.

The plan moves sustainability beyond the committed students who are already on the bike collecting recyclables and in the cafeteria helping with composting. The plan invites the community as a whole to participate, with the faculty encouraged to weave sustainability lessons and themes through their curricula as much as possible.

Students are urged to bicycle or walk instead of driving locally. In recent years, they鈥檝e help tend the university鈥檚 five beehives, four produce gardens, and dozens of fruit trees, with the results sometimes ending up in .

For information on the full range of 91短视频鈥檚 sustainability efforts 鈥� including solar energy panels and LEED-certified residence halls 鈥� visit 91短视频鈥檚 .

Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon, was awarded a Legislative Leadership Award by the environmental group on Monday at 91短视频.

The award, along with a book of nature photographs, was presented for Hanger’s work on Senate Bill 418, which “eradicate[d] a major tax barrier to solar energy,” according to the group’s announcement.

The bill extended tax exemptions to solar panels so that the equipment cannot be taxed by local governments as “machinery and tools.”

Solar energy equipment is now classified as “pollution control equipment” and exempt from local taxation. The bill was signed into law in March.

Republicans and environmental groups often butt heads over issues ranging from land conservation to funding for alternative sources of energy.

Hanger was honored on the balcony of 91短视频’s Campus Center building, overlooking the . The panels, installed in 2010, are operated by Staunton-based solar development company .

, founder of Secure Futures and professor of at 91短视频, said Monday night that solar power is the “fastest-growing industry in the United States.”

Smith said Hanger’s legislation will help support that growth.

“It’s important to align yourself with a very seasoned and very professional legislator … who can work on both sides of the aisle,” Smith said.

On receiving his award 鈥� made out of recycled glass 鈥� Hanger said human beings could be resistant to change, but need to be able to adapt.

Hanger noted the importance of coal to Virginia’s history, but said the state has survived similar changes in the past.

“There was life after tobacco,” he said, referring to a former top industry that has declined.

Several of the Sierra Club’s members thanked Hanger for his work and remarked on his “courage” in working with them.

The Sierra Club claims to be the “nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.”

During the 2012 election cycle, the Sierra Club political action committee contributed more than $456,000 to congressional candidates nationwide 鈥� 99 percent of which went to Democratic candidates, according to the campaign finance tracking website OpenSecrets.org.

The remaining 1 percent went to independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has described himself as a “democratic socialist.”

In 2013, the state chapter of the Sierra Club spent more than $468,000 in support of Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s successful gubernatorial campaign, according to the , which tracks campaign funds for state elections.

Waving off concerns that some in his party might be upset with him working with the environmental group, Hanger said that the bill removes an impediment to business.

“I see it as leveling the playing field,” he said.

In addition to Hanger, eight other Legislative Leadership awards were given out this year by the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club: four to Republicans and four to Democrats, according to an April press release from the group.

Courtesy of the Daily News Record, July 21, 2014.

A poster describing the project 鈥� a solar-powered greenhouse 鈥� also won second place in the first- and second-year Engineering Design Team Division at a of the , held in Georgia at Mercer University from March 30 to April 1, 2014.

Three members of 91短视频鈥檚 chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World () (the first chapter in Virginia) traveled to the conference along with faculty advisor , assistant professor of .

鈥淥ur poster was unique because it described something tangible that we had built,鈥� says ESW club president Jordan Leaman. 鈥淢any of the other projects were research-based and not very practical.鈥�

Earlier this winter, the seed of the greenhouse project germinated in a brainstorming session between first-year roommates Leaman and major Jonathan Nisly. Building a greenhouse for was Nisly鈥檚 idea. Funding for the project came from Earthkeepers.

鈥淎 lot of people build these structures with 20-foot lengths of PVC pipe, adding as many hoops as you want for the length of the greenhouse,鈥� says Leaman.

Two weeks prior to the conference, six ESW club members assembled the 12 x 50-foot skeleton of the greenhouse, sealing it with a 6 mil plastic sheet the following week. The interior was 20 degrees warmer than outside temperatures the next day.

To complete the project, the club will apply for a grant from Engineers for a Sustainable World for fans and supplemental solar heat to further extend the growing season through the winter months.

The aerodynamic shape of the curved tunnel helps with wind resistance. Without fittings on the pipes, the structure can bend and flex with high winds. (The students admit they called back to campus to confirm the greenhouse withstood the 50-mph gusts that blew through Harrisonburg while they were at the conference.)

That weekend, the students from 91短视频 had the opportunity to mix with young engineers from other schools who presented a range of projects, and learned about humanitarian engineering projects sponsored by Mercer University.

鈥淭he conference was kind of a whirlwind of new ideas and information being thrown at us,鈥� says Nisly.

A presentation on prosthetics design and testing 鈥� part of a Mercer project working with amputees in Vietnam 鈥� gave the students insights into practical applications of engineering principles, says Tian.

鈥淓ngineers working to promote environmental, economic and social sustainability is very important to me,鈥� she says. One of Tian鈥檚 first initiatives after joining 91短视频鈥檚 and faculty in the fall of 2013 was to start an ESW chapter. She is pleased that the club鈥檚 first project received regional recognition.

In the poster鈥檚 conclusion, the ESW students describe the greenhouse as 鈥渁 valuable asset to the university, as well as an opportunity for the ESW club to put our skills to work. It is a project that can be used as a model for other academic institutions, and we hope its impact will reach beyond our campus.鈥�

Pre-engineering students at 91短视频 have successfully moved from a strong foundation in math, physics and engineering classes to excel in specialized engineering schools at universities such as Penn State, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia, says Tian.