Sustainable
success
Whether she is in class or leading
sustainability efforts on the world’s largest campus, one thing is sure: Keiko
Stobaeus is no ordinary student.
An animal science major and anthropology
minor, Stobaeus has made her mark at Berry College – while helping Berry lessen
its mark on the environment. She has excelled as the sustainability
coordinator for the Green Team, a student initiative committed to helping Berry
go green. Among other projects, the Green Team has promoted recycling
in residence halls and water conservation all across the campus.
Student involvement has been
cited as a major factor in Berry’s continued improvement on the College
Sustainability Report Card, an annual report that issues a letter grade for
green initiatives at colleges and universities all across the United States and
Canada. Berry earned a B+ on the 211 report. Of the 322 institutions evaluated
for the 2011 report, only 16 percent scored higher.
Berry’s sustainability
program flourishes with help from the Green Team, and the Green Team has
thrived under Stobaeus’ leadership. But she is the first to admit that her
success would not be possible without the firsthand work experience and
generous financial aid opportunities that Berry offers.
“I couldn’t be here without
the donations and the scholarships that I’ve received,” she said. “I am
definitely appreciative of the generous people who are part of Berry’s
community.”
It is these people who have
given her the opportunity to make an impact on the college. It is with the help
of her donors that she can be extraordinary.
By Alyssa Hollingsworth
Student Editorial Assistant