NPC receives recycling award
National Park College was awarded the Arkansas Recycling Coalition’s 2023 College Recycler of the Year award during the organization’s 32nd Annual Conference and Trade Show at Oaklawn earlier this month.
Signifying a college that “made a significant contribution to the advancement of waste reduction, recycling, and sustainability in their school over the past year,” the award recognized NPC’s Recycling and Sustainability Committee and the newly-formed student Sustainability Club, a news release said.
“I think the biggest contributor to the cause is Kira Hall,” Katelynn Westfall-Gallegos, the club’s vice president, said in the release.
“Kira went out of her way to speak to any and every person about the importance of recycling and advertised the cleanups.
“As the vice president, I have been more of the person who handles the paperwork and appearances at the table, and I have helped a little bit with organizing the meetings. As the two of us have worked hard together to make an environmental impact on the campus, it is rewarding to see the fruits of our labor. Our ambitions for this next school year and this year will allow for us to make a permanent impact on our student body in the name of sustainability,” she said.
Hall said the recycling committee’s work kick-started the entire process.
“Students and faculty represented great green practices in our community and on the school campus,” she said. “I cannot take all the credit. The National Park College Recycling Committee has been doing so much for our campus. Dr. Barnard and Mrs. Gentiles, what great role models they are with their eco-friendly practices.
“It was an honor to be asked by Dr. (Alex) Barnard to accept this award with her as a student representative for National Park College for College Recycler of the Year at the Arkansas Recycling Coalition Awards banquet. Now, it’s my job as a student to reach out to other students, promoting environmental awareness. Small actions lead to big changes. We can make an impact. We will make an impact.”
Barnard, who is part of the committee as well as the sponsor of the Sustainability Club, said she is proud of the work that has been done to encourage recycling and cleanups on campus.
“I’m proud of the work the Recycling and Sustainability Committee has put in over the past several years to expand NPC’s recycling program and promote environmental stewardship on our campus, through regular litter cleanups, our annual Earth Day celebration, and a native plant and pollinator garden that’s currently in the works,” she said.
“It’s great to work with enthusiastic students like Kira and Katelynn, who are starting a student-led Sustainability Club. Any students, staff, or faculty who want to get involved, please get in touch.”
Each year the Arkansas Recycling Coalition’s conference and trade show attracts many professionals in the reduce, reuse, recycle and sustainability field from around the state and nation, the release said.