By Briahnna Brown
On a bright and sunny Monday afternoon, Kogan Plaza buzzed with George Washington University students celebrating what makes the planet great while learning ways to protect it.
Sustainable GW’s annual Earth Day Fair featured tables from various GW and community organizations that promote sustainable living. The GroW Community Garden and GW Grounds were recruiting student volunteers to help with planting local greenery. Surfrider GW, the campus chapter of a nonprofit that aims to keep water sources clean, was selling steel straws as a way to eliminate plastic straw waste.
In partnership with ReThread DC—the District’s Department of Energy & Environment’s textile reuse and recovery initiative—Goodwill of Greater Washington and Stitched with Style, the fair also featured a clothing swap. Participants were able to trade in gently used clothing in exchange for other thrifted clothing items. Goodwill offered styling tips to freshen up clothes that may seem outdated, and Stitched with Style taught simple stitching methods to extend the life of clothing.
Kimberly Williams, stakeholder engagement associate with the Office of Sustainability, said the annual Earth Day fair brings the GW and D.C. community together to connect over a shared vision of protecting the planet.
“By promoting initiatives spearheaded by student groups, campus departments and community organizations at the Earth Day Fair, we can all discover ways to improve our impact on the planet all year round,” Ms. Williams said.
In a special awards ceremony held at President Thomas LeBlanc’s F Street House on Wednesday evening, the Office of Sustainability recognized GW students who have shown a commitment to sustainability. Award winners included:
- Sage Wylie and Isabelle Moody, who received the Sustainable GW Award, for their efforts on the Food Task Force.
- Jonathan Kvilhaug and Rachel Yakobashvili, who each won awards for the Eco Equity Challenge
- Connor Dalton, who was awarded the Charles and Deborah Frank Fellowship at the Sierra Club
- Yoon Sil Choi, Claire Franco, Kethelyn Papp, Adele Queener, and Sarah Zarsky, who all received the Sustainability Scholars Award for sustainability research.
Take a look at some photos of the GW community celebrating sustainability:
