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Caring For Our Earth
On Earth Day, April 22, the Virginia Wesleyan community honors our planet
University News | April 21, 2021
Taking care of our Earth is a year-round commitment at Virginia Wesleyan. In honor of Earth Day on April 22, the University takes pride in sharing some of the ways the VWU community honors our planet, beginning with the benefits of spending time in nature.
According to researchers at the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality and Healing, being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature contributes to physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. On Earth Day, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Norfolk Botanical Garden/VWU Horticulturalist Marisa Cousin and Director of Living Landscapes Brian O'Neil will host a tour of the Greer Environmental Sciences Center Gardens for VWU faculty and staff. This event is part of Virginia Wesleyan’s CORE program to promote health and wellness.
The spectacular Gardens of the Greer have been captured in photos taken by Cousin. The album not only shows the beauty of the living landscapes and gardens surrounding the environmental sciences center, but also provides a detailed description for each photo that includes botanical and common names, locations and information about the native plants.
Also on Earth Day, at 6:30 p.m., the VWU Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences will host a virtual seminar for members of the VWU community. Virginia Wesleyan alumna Maynanni McCourty ‘19 will be a guest lecturer in Professor Elizabeth Malcolm’s meteorology course. McCourty, who now works at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality as an air permit writer, will share what she does in her role to improve air quality in Virginia.
The second annual Earth & Environmental Sciences Department Endowed Fund grants have been awarded for student-led projects. The awardees are: Ezekiel Herrera-Bevan, Skyler Lattuca, Jean Mahon, and Ashley Roehrman for their proposal, "Flow Hive," which garnered their team $968. Their project adds two new Flow Hives to the apiary on campus. These hives are designed to simplify honey harvesting, enabling students in the VWU beekeeping class to compare the new technology to traditional hives.
Devin Calpo, Ashanti Kincannon, and Juwon Seaborne were awarded $300 for their proposal, "Plant Wellness Initiative." The students proposed this workshop because plants have been shown to reduce stress in humans. This team will receive training on the care of houseplants and then organize a workshop which will be open to all VWU students. Participating students will receive a plant after they learn about houseplant care during the workshop.
For the second year, the VWU Sustainability Leaders program will “green” bachelor degrees at Virginia Wesleyan. The program recognizes students who have completed volunteer service and coursework focused on real-world issues of sustainability and the environment. This year 18 graduating seniors have earned the distinction, entitling them to receive a special cord (dyed with food waste scraps, of course) to wear during commencement ceremonies.
Marlins Go Green is planning a virtual trivia night and virtual movie night for students during Earth Week. The club will also sponsor an invasive species removal session on campus for student volunteers.
Finally, in honor of Earth Day, VWU Student Activities’ “Off The Hook” will host a Flower Power give away on April 22. Students will have the opportunity to receive a plant and make the earth a more environmentally friendly place.
Virginia Wesleyan has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally for its sustainability practices. The University's beautiful 300-acre park-like campus is an oasis of trees, open fields and flowers that also happens to be a designated bird sanctuary, in addition to the home of the old-growth beech forest. VWU has received numerous distinctions for environmental advocacy and best practices throughout the years.
Learn more about sustainability at VWU.