ISSUED: 15 April 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Shepherd Environmental Organization will celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, with an event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the lawn in front of the Robert C. Byrd Science and Technology Center. The celebration will include music, exhibits, activities, and the announcement of the winning organizations in this year’s recycling competition.
Serena Juarez, SEO president, said activities will include interactive games, tours of the Red Zone demonstration site behind Snyder Science Hall, a silent auction, and a bake sale. Environmental science students will have exhibits and talk about current environmental issues and solutions, including wind power. Juarez said one student plans to demonstrate miniature homemade wind turbines.
“Our theme this year will be plastic,” Juarez said. “NO AWAY: An Awareness Campaign about Plastic Consumption will be joining us and donating items to sell like metal straws and bamboo tableware to reduce plastic use around our area.”
The first, second, and third prizewinners of this year’s campus-wide recycling competition will also be announced. Juarez said Shepherd recycled more than 600 pounds of items between February 1 and March 28.
The on-campus group or organization that collected the most recycling by weight will receive a $100 donation to the charity of its choice and personalized recycled prizes like a T-shirts or water bottles. Last year’s winner was Delta Zeta sorority.
Juarez hopes everyone can take the time to stop by this free celebration and learn more about what can be done to help the environment.
“Earth Day is very important to us because it’s a day where we can celebrate the success we’ve had in protecting our earth,” she said. “We hear so much about negative news from the world, but this day we will focus on how our next generation will care for it. We are also aiming to raise awareness and provide both sustainable and practical solutions so that each person individually can help make the earth a greener place.”
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