GRAND RAPIDS – The West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum announced this week the recipients of $5,000 in scholarships, Amanda Klein, Kendall College of Art & Design, and Lucas Timmer, Calvin College. Both are entering their senior year.
Klein is majoring in Interior Design with a minor in Collaborative Design. She has served as the President of the Kendall Green Council. She has been actively involved in their recycling program and helped initiate a very successful composting program. Her efforts were reflected in Kendall�??s phenomenal success in the national RecycleMania competition winning second place in the Grand Champion category and third place in Waste Minimization.
Timmer has a deep interest in the field of renewable energy, which has led to his pursuit of a major in engineering and a minor in economics. In January of 2013, he was hired as the Calvin Energy Recovery Fund (CERF) intern. CERF was founded in 2009 to be a revolving fund used to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions on campus. As the fifth CERF intern, Lucas�?? job is to continue to monitor past projects while also working on new projects to lower carbon dioxide emissions and energy costs. His first new project was to replace all the dorm showerheads on campus with a low-flow alternative and evaluate the costs and benefits, including �??user satisfaction.�?�
The WMSBF recognizes the critical role that higher education plays in preparing future leaders of the sustainable business movement. We believe that long-term and lasting success depends on both an expanded pool of sustainability savvy professionals and a transformation of the higher education system; integrating sustainability into every course of study and every curriculum.
