On Thursday, April 23, the Office of Sustainability, the Sustainability Council and the Office of Community Engagement and Belonging are inviting all students and faculty to their annual Sustainability in Service Symposium from 3 to 6 p.m. in Donahoo Lounge.
The event will include informational presentations and tables about topics regarding sustainable practices and community service, as well as free food and several interactive activities with prizes.
Caroline Efird, a junior environmental science major and Event Coordinator Intern with the Office of Sustainability, encourages student attendance because of the education and outreach this event will offer.
“This symposium is a unique opportunity to connect directly with local organizations doing impactful work in Milledgeville and the surrounding area,” Efird said. “It is also a chance to learn how sustainability goes beyond environmental topics and connects deeply to service, community health and social responsibility.”
She hopes students will get useful information out of their attendance while also feeling more connected to the community as a whole, and that they leave feeling encouraged to practice sustainability as a way to contribute to that community.
“I want students to walk away with a better understanding of what sustainability looks like in practice, how it connects to service and how they can personally get involved with organizations that are making a difference in the local community,” Efird said.
Several organizations will be tabling at the event, including Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross, as well as GCSU-specific groups such as the Gardening Club, the Aquatic Sciences Club and many more. In addition to providing education on local opportunities for sustainability, these tables will provide student engagement activities.
“Students should attend because there will be a raffle competition to win some epic GCSU swag, reusable cutlery, and other sustainable prizes,” said Morgan Dodson, a senior public health major and full-time intern with the Office of Sustainability. “There will also be a Tote Bag decorating station that students can take with them, and free food.”
Doug Oetter, a Professor of Geography and Sustainability Symposium organizer, believes that participants in sustainable community-driven practices gain benefits far beyond just a positive impact on the environment.
“We build essential skills, develop strong relationships, and create a tremendous sense of belonging,” he said. “More than a few volunteers have used their experiences to help develop meaningful and lucrative careers in the non-profit sector as well as business and governance.”
Though students will have the opportunity to form meaningful connections with community outreach organizations, they will also learn small and consistent practices that they can implement into their daily lives to reduce waste and pollution.
“Some sustainable practices we always like to promote at the Office of Sustainability are using reusable water bottles, turning off lights when leaving a room, learning your campus recycling rules, volunteering consistently and building relationships with 1-2 local organizations,” Dodson said.
The Sustainability Symposium is intended to be a fun, relaxing event that will leave students feeling more inclined to understand and protect the environment. It is meant to serve as an opportunity for learning, forming connections and making a positive impact on the natural world.
“Students at GCSU can learn that sustainability means connectivity, with our world, our region, and our community,” Oetter said. “When we help clean up and improve our neighborhood, we help improve ourselves.”
Students interested in attending the event or learning more about GCSU’s student sustainability organizations can visit the Office of Sustainability located in Miller Court Room 310 at 302 N Wayne Street.