Unity College to Hold Greenest Commencement in its History, Author and Sustainable Agriculture Activist Gary Nabhan is Commencement Speaker
Unity, Maine – March 21, 2011 – In 2010, Unity College proudly raised the bar on how green a college commencement could be. For its planned 2011 commencement exercises, the environmental college in Unity, Maine, will attempt to improve upon its previous achievement.
Will Unity College once again host the greenest college commencement in the United States? Whether or not any college or university can support such a claim, the fact remains that officials are certain the 2011 exercises will be the greenest in its 45-year history.
Unity College commencement exercises are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, in the gymnasium on the college campus, 90 Quaker Hill Road, Unity, Maine. Author and Sustainable Agriculture Activist Gary Nabhan will serve as the commencement speaker.
Full details of the 2011 commencement festivities, honorary degrees and awards are available online at www.unity.edu.
2011 Commencement Procession
“We believe that our 2011 commencement exercises will surpass the previous year, which was among the greenest held anywhere in the United States in 2010,” noted Summer Programs and Events Coordinator Kate Grenier. “Our theme this year is agriculture and local food systems. This theme ties in very well with our growing new major, Agriculture, Food and Sustainability.”
“Unity College has been widely recognized for its approach to sustainability,” said Associate Director of College Communications Mark Tardif. “The term sustainability refers to practices that can be continued indefinitely without adversely impacting future generations' quality of life. From recycling to building practices and now to commencement, Unity College provides numerous examples of environmental leadership in a complex world.”
Unity College Approach for a Sustainable Commencement
In its continuing quest to increase environmental awareness, Unity College implemented a number of initiatives intended to make the events of the 2011 commencement exceptionally sustainable. The College examined many aspects of its commencement, from the food offered to the carbon emission reductions needed in order to reduce the environmental impact of the commencement and related festivities.
Highlights of Unity’s sustainable commencement include:
E-invitations sent to families and friends
Composting event wastes
100% post-consumer recycled diplomas
One program provided per family and per graduate for fewer printed programs
Eco-friendly plaques
Caps and gowns made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles. Fabric spun from molten plastic pellets. It takes an average of 23 plastic bottles to make each graduation gown.
Local and organic foods comprise nearly three quarters of the total food prepared
Programs printed on 100% post-consumer paper or alternative fibers
Sustainability information offered through educational signs/posters
Efficient fluorescent lighting utilized in gym
Catering rents reusable plates, flatware, glassware, cloth linens for less trash disposal
Potted decorations borrowed or replanted after use throughout campus
Local and organic or sustainable graduate gifts
Green cleaning using eco-friendly products
Unity College purchases 100% of its electrical power from Maine-based renewable resources.
Graduates will pledge to live sustainably
Pledging to Live Sustainably
The class of 2011, family members and alumni will be asked to pledge to learn more about how they can reduce their carbon footprint, decrease their use of energy and responsibly dispose of any waste generated during commencement weekend and in their lives.
“Commencement is about the transformational journey over four years to receiving a degree from America’s Environmental College,” Grenier explained. “When students choose to attend Unity they are making a lifelong commitment, and Unity College reflects those values.”
Graduates receive a sapling tree as a symbol of their lifelong commitment to the environment and growth throughout their life. They will also receive a copy of Chasing Chiles: Hot Spots Along the Pepper Trail by Gary Paul Nabhan, Kraig Kraft, and Kurt Michael Friese.
Grenier noted that Unity College is “an environmentally focused academic community dedicated to those who seek to live their passion and make a positive difference in people’s lives and the natural world.”
The senior banquet will be held on Friday, May 6, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Unity College gymnasium. Grenier expects 75% of the food served will be from local and sustainable sources. Associate Professor Tim Peabody ’81, a former Colonel of the Maine Warden Service, will deliver an address. For details contact Kate Grenier at (207) 948-3131, ext. 301, or e-mail kgrenier@unity.edu.
Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources. Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.
In 2010, Unity College was named to the top 30 of the Washington Monthly college rankings, and was one of eighteen U.S. colleges and universities named to The Princeton Review’s Green Rating Honor Roll.
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