{"id":535,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:27","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/jane-goodall-center-receives-environmental-award\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:27","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:27","slug":"jane-goodall-center-receives-environmental-award","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/jane-goodall-center-receives-environmental-award\/","title":{"rendered":"WCSU 2016 – Jane Goodall Center receives environmental award"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014Western Connecticut State University\u2019s<\/a> Jane Goodall Center for Excellence in Environmental Studies<\/a> was named a 2016 Environmental Champion<\/a> by Aquarion Water<\/a> at an awards ceremony at Connecticut\u2019s Beardsley Zoo in early June. The public water supply company selected winners from entrants whose volunteer efforts have protected or improved Connecticut\u2019s natural resources: air, water, soil, or plant and wildlife communities. Winners were determined in five categories: Adult, Youth, Small Business, Large Business and Nonprofit Organization. The Jane Goodall Center took the top prize<\/a> in the Nonprofit category. Sen. Richard Blumenthal presented the award.<\/p>\n

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In an online description of the award recipients, the Aquarion website stated: \u201cA new and unique partnership combining the academic and research \u00a0prowess of Western Connecticut State University and The Jane Goodall Institute, the Center has done literally ground-breaking work through a focus on the interconnectivity of people, animals and the environment. \u2026 Last fall Jane Goodall traveled to the campus to visit her namesake institution and dedicate the [university\u2019s Permaculture] garden. In front of an audience of 800 she expressed her delight at not just the sustainable garden but for the way the Western Connecticut campus has itself become a garden, nurturing sustainability practices throughout the area, and harvesting their many benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

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As a result of its selection, the Jane Goodall Center will receive a $2,500 award, which will be used to pay a garden intern, according to Dr. Laurie Weinstein, chair of the Jane Goodall Center.<\/p>\n

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\u201cDuring the summer, we need help with the garden, but because it\u2019s summer, you can\u2019t count on enough students being around to help,\u201d Weinstein said. \u201cThe award will go toward the garden manager\u2019s salary, which is extremely helpful since we rely entirely on donations from supporters to keep the garden going.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Intern Ashley Kenney not only manages the garden, but also works to involve students and the community in the permaculture movement. She solicits donations of live plants from local nurseries, created a series of \u201cfarm for yourself\u201d lectures on campus that will continue next year, and organizes the campus and community volunteers who help maintain the garden\u2019s crops.<\/p>\n

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Among Kenney\u2019s future plans for the garden are the acquisition of fruit trees.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019d like to build a fruit forest,\u201d she said. \u201cIt would be great if someone could fund the purchase of two-year old peach and cherry trees so they are ready to fruit.\u201d<\/p>\n

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For more information about Western\u2019s Permaculture Garden and how to support it, visit www.wcsu.edu\/goodall\/permculture.asp<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

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