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Furman selected as finalist in climate leadership competition
The David E. Shi Center for Sustainability at Furman University has been named a finalist in the 2014 Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards, an annual competition among U.S. colleges and universities that are signatories of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).
The awards program is sponsored by Second Nature, a national nonprofit that seeks to create a sustainable society by transforming higher education, and Planet Forward, an organization that engages innovators and publishes compelling ideas for some of society’s biggest challenges.
Said David Hales, President of Second Nature, “The impacts of climate change are being felt at all scales and among all people across the U.S. and the world, and our colleges and universities are clearly at the forefront of identifying solutions, and providing the next generation of responsible and pioneering leaders. This year we are seeing the most innovative and exciting projects yet, and we are thrilled to be able to recognize these institutions and their work.”
Now in its fifth year, the awards program drew the largest and most competitive pool of nominations to date. Second Nature will partner with Planet Forward, a web-to-television initiative that documents and shares energy, climate, and sustainability advances.
For the competition, each of the 20 finalists is invited to produce a video highlighting their campus sustainability efforts and innovations. Planet Forward will host a public voting competition during Earth Month, April 2014. Last year’s video competition collected 50,000 votes. The Second Nature board of directors will then choose the award winners in late spring 2014. A list of finalists follows:
2014 CLA Finalists
(Listed by Carnegie Classification)
Associate/Tribal Colleges
Valencia College (FL)
Gateway Technical College (WI)
Glendale Community College (AZ)
State University of New York Sullivan County Community College (NY)
Montgomery County Community College (PA)
Baccalaureate Colleges
Colby College (ME)
University of Minnesota – Morris (MN)
Huston -Tillotson University (TX)
Furman University (SC)
Master’s Colleges & Universities
California State University, Chico (CA)
Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
Frostburg State University (MD)
Columbia College Chicago (IL)
Bentley University (MA)
Doctorate Granting Universities
University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MA)
Western Michigan University (MI)
University of North Texas (TX)
The Ohio State University (OH)
Special Focus Institutions/Other
Massachusetts College of Arts & Design (MA)
University of Massachusetts Medical School (MA)
For more information, contact Yancey Fouché at Furman’s David E. Shi Center for Sustainability at 864-294-3656, or yancey.fouche@furman.edu.
About Second Nature
Second Nature is the supporting organization of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), a partnership among approximately 680 colleges and universities in every state and the District of Columbia who have committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare students through research and education to solve the challenges of the 21st century. Learn more at www.secondnature.org and www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org. Or contact Anne Waple, Director of Communications & Science, 828-398-4882, or awaple@secondnature.org.
About Planet Forward
Planet Forward, a project of the Center for Innovative Media at The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, is an online public forum where experts and engaged citizens weigh in on energy, climate and sustainability. For more information about Planet Forward, go to http://www.planetforward.org/.