The fifth anniversary of Earth Week on the UNMC campus added some new events to the old favorites. UNMC kicked off the week by planting two redbud trees in front of the Durham Research Center, commemorating Arbor Day and celebrating UNMC's designation by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA. On Tuesday, the campus voted for its favorite" Repurpose It Contest" entries. There were 40 fantastic projects to choose from and here are the winners:
- Popular Vote: Jessica Odvody was awarded a 20-minute massage from the Wellness Center and a $25 gift certificate to The Union Junktion store for her rotary hoe-flower yard art;
- Habitat for Humanity Restore: Mike McGlade was awarded a $25 gift certificate to the Restore for his pallet/planter-patio table with drink chiller;
- Reclaimed Enterprises: Dot Northwall was awarded a handcrafted serving tray made by Barnwood Trays and a 10 percent discount at Reclaimed Enterprises for her kitchen island of shutters/stairs/fence/curtain rod;
- Verdis Group: Jocelyn Pearson was awarded a 20-minute massage from the Wellness Center for her center pivot swing set;
- LiveGreen Committee: Prizes went to Samantha Straw and Kelli Ryan (one winner received a gift certificate to The Company Store, the other a UNMC Bookstore gift bag) for Straw's pallet/construction supplies doghouse and Ryan's leftover floorboard wall art.
You can see all the creative entries here. We hope you will be inspired to repurpose items at home and take pictures to enter next year's contest! We received more than four tons of material, provided identity protection to donors, and sent the material to be recycled instead of to the landfill. This equals the size of a white rhinoceros, and will prevent 12 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, the equivalent of not consuming 1,350 gallons of gasoline. The first Sustainability Expo capped off the Earth Week festivities. Attendees picked the brains of master gardeners, tasted great recipes using high-protein plant sources like quinoa and bulgur, and learned about recycling on campus and at home. There was information about green cleaning, the Commuter Challenge, vermicomposting, the UNMC student bicycling club, telehealth and wellness, and as a special treat, a fun remote-control car race that will help kick off TravelSmart on campus June 1. Thank you for attending and for your interest in Earth Week on campus. If you have any ideas for next year or would like to help plan activities, please email LiveGreen.