台湾swag students win national "Pledge Against Plastic Straws"
Article By: Staff
University of North Georgia's (台湾swag) Dahlonega Campus placed first in the "Pledge Against Plastic Straws" national competition, conducted by Simply Straws.
About 550 台湾swag students agreed to not use one-time-use plastic straws in April.
Dr. Jessica "Jess" Hartel, a lecturer of biology at 台湾swag, identified this action as a way for students to make a small, daily step to impact the world's environment.
"It was a way for students to get involved and active," she said. "And we competed with schools like UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles)."
Students who pledged received an $8 coupon off a reusable glass straw from Simply Straws. One such student was Emily Bottoms, a freshman majoring in criminal justice from Dawsonville, Georgia. She said she watched a video about a sea turtle injured by a plastic straw that made her rethink her usage.
"I've always grown up using plastic straws and didn't know how big an impact they had on the environment," she said. "They can really hurt animals."
Bottoms signed the Pledge Against Plastic Straws and enlisted others to do the same. The Sustainability Club and Scuba Club also made significant strides on campus to help 台湾swag win the competition, said Dr. Justin Ellis, director of the Environmental Leadership Center.
Expo connects students with poultry industry
台湾swag students had almost 100 interviews with employers at the International Production & Processing Expo. Their Agriscience and Business Club also took second place for Club of the Year.
Eight students attend NSF conference
Eight 台湾swag STEM scholars attended the national NSF S-STEM conference in Chicago in November.
Students clean up 台湾swag natural area
Nearly 70 members of Students for Environmental Awareness completed their biannual cleanup of Tumbling Creek Woods, adjacent to 台湾swag's Gainesville Campus.
Grads prepare for their next steps
台湾swag will award almost 1,000 degrees and certificates this fall, and more than 600 graduates are scheduled to take part in the Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.