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Untitled

IT director takes daily commute on two wheels

1/9/13

This semester, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Penn State as a Bicycle Friendly University. Joel Weidner, director of the Interactive Media Team in Auxiliary & Business Services, rides his bike to work every day. The 1.3-mile ride may not seem like a lot, but what turns out to be about 15 miles a week (plus riding to meetings) makes biking to work the healthy, environmental and cost-effective activity that keeps Weidner riding -- even in the nastiest weather.

It was 35 degrees this morning. How was your ride? Do you ride in all weather?
It wasn't bad, a little chilly. I've biked in total snow and slush when I probably shouldn't have. I just take it really slow. It almost gets to be a principle thing. I wiped out once on the ice. My hardcore biker friend said, "There are two kinds of bikers: Those who have crashed and those who are going to crash."

Penn State Housing takes big steps toward 'zero waste' goals

1/9/13

A year ago, Penn State Housing, with help from the Office of Physical Plant and Residence Life, embarked on a seemingly impossible quest. Its goal was to change habits, raise awareness and increase options in an effort to make the residence halls zero waste.

A daunting task indeed. But starting with North Halls last spring and now in several East Halls buildings, on-campus students have proven they are not afraid to take on the zero waste challenge.

"They're on board here," said Jan Mason, East Halls Housing manager. "It took some time to adjust and some education, but now we have the buy-in we're looking for, and we're ready to move forward."

Untitled

Penn State hotels awarded for environmental initiatives

11/19/12

Environmentally charged programs at the Penn State hotels caught the attention of a statewide organization, which recognized the two facilities for their continued commitment to the environment and instilling sustainable practices into their day-to-day operations.

The Nittany Lion Inn and Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel won the Pennsylvania Waste Watchers Award. The designation identifies businesses and schools that overachieve in their commitment to recycling, waste reduction, reuse and composting.

Untitled

Airport earns $217K in federal funding for sustainable master plan

10/26/12

The time to update its 20-25 year master plan was approaching, and officials at the University Park Airport saw an opportunity to receive federal funding to create a Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The airport's application was accepted and University Park is now the 13th airport in the country--and first in the state--to receive funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to make its future development operations "greener."

The 18-month plan provides the airport with $217,000 in federal airport improvement funding to address sustainability. With the airport's relationship with the University and the surrounding community, it was an ideal choice for funding.

Outreach_Shavers Creek

Shaver's Creek workshop to teach process, tools for going 'zero waste'

9/12/12

Many people are trying to reduce the amount of waste from their homes and offices that ends up in landfills. In an effort to help, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center and Penn State's Office of Physical Plant (OPP) are holding a workshop on Oct. 3 titled "Naturally Green: The Journey to Zero Waste."

Untitled

Student Stories: CED grad helps African youth with finances

9/4/12

A month-long, study-abroad trip to Kenya last year turned into an extended stay for one College of Agricultural Sciences student so she could continue helping at-risk youth in that country. Caroline Gimmillaro originally went to the Children and Youth Empowerment Centre in Nyeri, Kenya, as part of a study-abroad program embedded into one of her classes. The center is a residential and educational program for street-dwelling children and other vulnerable youths.

Lion Surplus

Annual spring auction to be held May 10 at Lion Surplus

4/24/12

Penn State's Lion Surplus will hold its annual Spring Auction at 9 a.m. on May 10 at its store on Penn State's University Park campus.

This season's auction will feature gently used bicycles, cars, scrap metal and shop equipment. All items can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the May 9 preview.

York's Green Team plans Earth Day celebration April 20

4/19/12

Penn State York students, faculty, staff, and friends and neighbors will clean-up the campus woods from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 20 as part of an Earth Day Celebration. The event is being organized by the campus' recently formed Green Team, the Penn State York Student Government Association, and the Penn State Sustainability Office. Sunday, April 22 is the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day and a variety of events are set to take place across the University.

Untitled

Penn State goes green on April 20 with Earth Day celebration

4/17/12

The Blue and White is going green. Penn State is celebrating its Earth Week with a large Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 20, at Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center. The celebration, sponsored by the Campus Sustainability Office, Center for Sustainability, Office of Student Affairs, Dining Services and others, will feature leaders from around Penn State dedicated to teaching the community about sustainability. Attendees can learn more about how they impact the world around them by talking with the exhibitors, participating in interactive games, sampling local foods offered by Penn State Dining Services and Catering, or attending one of the many workshops offered that day.

Untitled

CHANCE program to receive award

1/24/12

CHANCE (Connecting Humans and Nature through Conservation Experiences), has been chosen to receive the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) 2012 Outstanding Environmental Education Program award. The award, which recognizes an exemplary environmental education program which could be used as a model, will be presented at the PAEE annual conference to be held March 16-17 at the Raystown Lake Resort and Conference Center in Entriken, Pa.

Trash to Treasure winter sale set for Feb. 4

1/19/12

The Student United Way is sponsoring the winter Trash to Treasure sale. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, in 108 Fisher Hall (East Halls) on the University Park campus of Penn State. The sale is open to the public. Admission is free. Parking is available in the East Parking Deck on Bigler Road.

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Untitled

IT director takes daily commute on two wheels

1/9/13

This semester, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Penn State as a Bicycle Friendly University. Joel Weidner, director of the Interactive Media Team in Auxiliary & Business Services, rides his bike to work every day. The 1.3-mile ride may not seem like a lot, but what turns out to be about 15 miles a week (plus riding to meetings) makes biking to work the healthy, environmental and cost-effective activity that keeps Weidner riding -- even in the nastiest weather.

It was 35 degrees this morning. How was your ride? Do you ride in all weather?
It wasn't bad, a little chilly. I've biked in total snow and slush when I probably shouldn't have. I just take it really slow. It almost gets to be a principle thing. I wiped out once on the ice. My hardcore biker friend said, "There are two kinds of bikers: Those who have crashed and those who are going to crash."

Penn State Housing takes big steps toward 'zero waste' goals

1/9/13

A year ago, Penn State Housing, with help from the Office of Physical Plant and Residence Life, embarked on a seemingly impossible quest. Its goal was to change habits, raise awareness and increase options in an effort to make the residence halls zero waste.

A daunting task indeed. But starting with North Halls last spring and now in several East Halls buildings, on-campus students have proven they are not afraid to take on the zero waste challenge.

"They're on board here," said Jan Mason, East Halls Housing manager. "It took some time to adjust and some education, but now we have the buy-in we're looking for, and we're ready to move forward."

Untitled

Penn State hotels awarded for environmental initiatives

11/19/12

Environmentally charged programs at the Penn State hotels caught the attention of a statewide organization, which recognized the two facilities for their continued commitment to the environment and instilling sustainable practices into their day-to-day operations.

The Nittany Lion Inn and Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel won the Pennsylvania Waste Watchers Award. The designation identifies businesses and schools that overachieve in their commitment to recycling, waste reduction, reuse and composting.

Untitled

Airport earns $217K in federal funding for sustainable master plan

10/26/12

The time to update its 20-25 year master plan was approaching, and officials at the University Park Airport saw an opportunity to receive federal funding to create a Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The airport's application was accepted and University Park is now the 13th airport in the country--and first in the state--to receive funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to make its future development operations "greener."

The 18-month plan provides the airport with $217,000 in federal airport improvement funding to address sustainability. With the airport's relationship with the University and the surrounding community, it was an ideal choice for funding.

Outreach_Shavers Creek

Shaver's Creek workshop to teach process, tools for going 'zero waste'

9/12/12

Many people are trying to reduce the amount of waste from their homes and offices that ends up in landfills. In an effort to help, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center and Penn State's Office of Physical Plant (OPP) are holding a workshop on Oct. 3 titled "Naturally Green: The Journey to Zero Waste."

Untitled

Student Stories: CED grad helps African youth with finances

9/4/12

A month-long, study-abroad trip to Kenya last year turned into an extended stay for one College of Agricultural Sciences student so she could continue helping at-risk youth in that country. Caroline Gimmillaro originally went to the Children and Youth Empowerment Centre in Nyeri, Kenya, as part of a study-abroad program embedded into one of her classes. The center is a residential and educational program for street-dwelling children and other vulnerable youths.

Lion Surplus

Annual spring auction to be held May 10 at Lion Surplus

4/24/12

Penn State's Lion Surplus will hold its annual Spring Auction at 9 a.m. on May 10 at its store on Penn State's University Park campus.

This season's auction will feature gently used bicycles, cars, scrap metal and shop equipment. All items can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the May 9 preview.

York's Green Team plans Earth Day celebration April 20

4/19/12

Penn State York students, faculty, staff, and friends and neighbors will clean-up the campus woods from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 20 as part of an Earth Day Celebration. The event is being organized by the campus' recently formed Green Team, the Penn State York Student Government Association, and the Penn State Sustainability Office. Sunday, April 22 is the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day and a variety of events are set to take place across the University.

Untitled

Penn State goes green on April 20 with Earth Day celebration

4/17/12

The Blue and White is going green. Penn State is celebrating its Earth Week with a large Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 20, at Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center. The celebration, sponsored by the Campus Sustainability Office, Center for Sustainability, Office of Student Affairs, Dining Services and others, will feature leaders from around Penn State dedicated to teaching the community about sustainability. Attendees can learn more about how they impact the world around them by talking with the exhibitors, participating in interactive games, sampling local foods offered by Penn State Dining Services and Catering, or attending one of the many workshops offered that day.

Untitled

CHANCE program to receive award

1/24/12

CHANCE (Connecting Humans and Nature through Conservation Experiences), has been chosen to receive the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) 2012 Outstanding Environmental Education Program award. The award, which recognizes an exemplary environmental education program which could be used as a model, will be presented at the PAEE annual conference to be held March 16-17 at the Raystown Lake Resort and Conference Center in Entriken, Pa.

Trash to Treasure winter sale set for Feb. 4

1/19/12

The Student United Way is sponsoring the winter Trash to Treasure sale. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, in 108 Fisher Hall (East Halls) on the University Park campus of Penn State. The sale is open to the public. Admission is free. Parking is available in the East Parking Deck on Bigler Road.