November 19, 2024
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An American Green Zone Alliance certification, a Sustainability Career Center and a brand-new energy-efficient childcare center are among a handful of programs and leaders honored with the 2024 Energy and Sustainability Awards from the California Community Colleges Board of Governors.

A total of six awards were presented at the Board of Governors meeting on Monday, Nov. 18 in Sacramento. The honorees, recognized for their leadership, innovative projects and efforts to achieve environmental sustainability, include Pasadena, San Mateo County and Palo Verde Community College Districts; Orange Coast College; and leaders from San Diego Mesa College and San Bernardino Community College District.

Amy Costa“On behalf of the Board of Governors, I’d like to congratulate our honorees. The work the colleges and leaders are doing is innovative and inspiring. They are leading the way in environmental protection by lowering energy consumption, minimizing waste and adopting sustainable practices,” said California Community Colleges Board of Governors President Amy M. Costa.

The Board of Governors Energy and Sustainability Awards were established in 2012 to honor community college sustainability leaders as well as local energy efficiency and sustainability efforts. Climate action is at the cornerstone of Vision 2030, the California Community Colleges strategic plan.

Sonya Chistian“Our colleges are committed to creating, exploring and implementing innovative technologies and progressive practices to reach the goals set forth in Vision 2030. We’re calling on our colleges to lead in climate action in workforce development and daily operations. And as demonstrated by this year’s honorees, not only have they accepted the challenge, but they are exceeding expectations,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian.

Following are brief summaries of awardee achievements:

Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Innovative Project (large district)

Pasadena City College (PCC) became the first AGZA-certified (American Green Zone Alliance) Green Zone in the City of Pasadena. The distinction is awarded to institutions that transition to using solely low-noise, zero-emission, battery-electric equipment for all landscaping and grounds operations. PCC is one of only six schools or cities in the nation to achieve this significant sustainability certification.

Board of Governors Group photo: Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Innovative Project (large district)
Pictured L to R: Chancellor Sonya Christian; Jillian Beck, special assistant to the president of PCC; Kristine Kwong, Board of Trustees, PCC; Amy M. Costa, Board of Governors president; Candace Jones, assistant superintendent/vice president, Business and Administrative Services, PCC; Carl Sheaffer, manager, Maintenance and Operations, Facilities and Construction PCC; Hildegarde B. Aguinaldo, Board of Governors vice president

 

Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Innovative Project (medium district)

San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) established a Sustainability Career Center (SCC) to advance and institutionalize sustainability education and workforce development. The SSC took a multifaceted approach that included: Implementing the Museum of Tomorrow (MoT) Model to engage students and faculty across disciplines; Strengthening the SMCCCD Sustainability Team’s engagement of campus stakeholders in energy-related projects; Providing a physical space for all campus community members to connect and explore sustainability topics.

Board of Governors Group photo: Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Innovative Project (medium district)
Pictured L to R: Chancellor Sonya Christian; Jessica Ho, Utility and Sustainability coordinator, SMCCCD; Amy M. Costa, Board of Governors president; Chancellor Melissa Moreno, SMCCCD; Michele Rudovsky, chief Facilities and Operations officer, SMCCCD; Richard Storti, executive vice chancellor of Administration, SMCCCD; Hildegarde B. Aguinaldo, Board of Governors vice president

 

Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Innovative Project (small district)

Palo Verde College’s (PVC) new Child Development Center is designed to meet LEED Silver standards. Energy-efficient features include outdoor shade structures, natural daylighting, drought tolerant landscaping, an energy-efficient cool roofing system, pathways for future electric vehicle charging stations and a 100% smoke-free environment. The new 10,000 sq ft facility doubles the community's current enrollment to 80 students. The old building was demolished and recycled into class #2 road bases.

Board of Governors Group photo: Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Innovative Project (small district)
Pictured L to R: Chancellor Sonya Christian; Superintendent/President Bruce Moses, PVC; Amy M. Costa, Board of Governors president; Stephanie Slagan, assistant superintendent/vice president of Administrative Services and College Advancement, PVC; Clint Cowden, assistant superintendent/vice president of Instruction and Student Services, PVC; Hildegarde B. Aguinaldo, Board of Governors vice president

 

Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Faculty/Student Initiatives

Orange Coast College’s (OCC) Campus to Table Project brings together the horticulture department, marine science, culinary arts, food and beverage management and student services in this sustainability efforts. The Aquaponics Lab blends aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water), to create a sustainable cycle to grow lettuce and tilapia. The OCC Food and Beverage Management program utilizes the food to support the culinary arts program and the student run restaurant. The culinary arts and food and beverage management programs infused innovative sustainability concepts into curriculum and created the Campus to Table program by preparing the food grown on campus. This year, the culinary arts competitive student Hot Food Team won regional and national recognition through the American Culinary Federation competitions for their campus to table menu.

Board of Governors Group photo: Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Faculty/Student Initiatives
Pictured L to R: Chancellor Sonya Christian; Robert Ellis, professor of marine science, OCC; Amy M. Costa, Board of Governors president; Magali Martinez, instructional assistant for horticulture and aquaponics, OCC; Tara Giblin, vice president of Instruction, OCC; President Angelica Loera Suarez, OCC; Hildegarde B. Aguinaldo, Board of Governors vice president

 

Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Sustainability Champion

San Diego Mesa College’s Dr. Waverly Ray, a geography professor, has promoted sustainability and climate literacy since 2014. This includes: obtaining grants to provide students with internships related to careers in environmental science; helping create Mesa’s TerraMesa Community Garden which now covers 4,000 square feet of community space, four plots with drip irrigation, a greenhouse, a compost hub, and a native plant garden and propagation space; she co-authored Mesa’s associate of arts degree in sustainability and a new geography course, sustainable places and practices; and previously served as co-principal investigator for the USDA’s SEEDS Scholars Program.

Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Climate Action Leadership

San Bernadino County Community College District’s (SBCCCD) Farrah Farzaneh, executive director for the Facilities Planning, Construction, Sustainability & Local Outreach department, has spearheaded transformative sustainability initiatives since 2018. This includes: leading the district toward its Zero Net Energy goals; helping secure $700,000 in funding for the solar farm and battery storage project at Crafton Hills College; $1 million in incentives for electric vehicle charging stations and $160,000 for energy-efficient projects under Southern California Edison’s Emerging Technology Program; implemented a district-wide energy and water monitoring dashboard; and served on the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office Climate Action Task Force.

Board of Governors Group photo: Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Climate Action Leadership
Pictured L to R: Chancellor Sonya Christian; Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez, SBCCCD; Farrah Farzaneh, executive director of Facilities Planning, Construction & Sustainability, SBCCCD; Amy M. Costa, Board of Governors president; Hildegarde B. Aguinaldo, Board of Governors vice president; Jose F. Torres, executive vice chancellor, SBCCCD; Joseph R. Williams, Board of Governors member

 

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision 2030, a strategic plan designed to improve student success, our communities and our planet. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

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