2025 Sustainability Celebration: A student poses with her award.
Integral Ecology In Action
2024-2025 Sustainability Champions
A campus food recovery program. A community research initiative supporting small farmers. A solar energy project that doubled the university's capacity. Just a few of the ways our Sustainability Champions lead transformative contributions to sustainability at SCU and beyond.
The Center for Sustainability was proud to recognize our 2024-2025 Sustainability Champions at this year's at this year’s Sustainability Celebration. These awards celebrate Student, Faculty, Staff, and SCU community members, nominated by their peers for their efforts to transform our campus this academic year by advancing sustainability through Engagement, Academics, Operations, or Administration. In addition, we present the Forge Garden Award and the Innovation Award to individuals or groups who have made special contributions
Our Sustainability Champions demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing strategic goals outlined in the Leading Through Laudato Si’ Action Plan, inspiring our campus community to care for our common home in meaningful and innovative ways.
Student Champion Wanyu “Mary” Xiang, ’25 – Sustainable Food Systems Minor As a dedicated Basic Needs Committee member, Mary launched a transformative food recovery program that reduces waste and increases student access to nutritious meals.
Innovation Champions JST–SCU Laudato Si’ Action Platform Committee – Kathryn Barush, Mark Blancke, Fabio Colorado, Jenny Girard Malley, Tomi Korsa, Monica Marcelli-Chu, Mary McGann, John Meyers, Stephen Szolosi This team pioneered a 7-year journey toward integral ecology through education, engagement, and institutional change—all rooted in Jesuit values and a commitment to a more just and sustainable world, inspiring a culture of sustainability rooted in faith and action.
Staff Champion Edward Grace – Director of Housing Building Operations & Facilities Eddie drives sustainability across the student residential experience—from orientation materials to Zero Waste Move Out—supporting composting, energy challenges, and donation programs.
Community Champions Jeff & Tina Bird Their visionary support made the Bird Solar Project possible—doubling SCU’s solar capacity and catalyzing further climate action through energy reinvestment and inspired philanthropy.
Faculty Champion Chris Bacon – Professor & Chair, Environmental Studies and Sciences Chris leads community-driven research supporting small farmers in Central America and San Jose, while mentoring students and advancing food and housing security through the SCU Basic Needs Survey and the Environmental Justice and the Common Good Initiative.
Garden Champion Native Plant Garden Project – Lynn Hillberg, Amy Lueck, Maia Dedrick, Lee Panich, Isabella Gomez This project promotes land stewardship, sustainable agriculture, and indigenous growing practices—educating the public and connecting Ohlone Youth Campers with traditional ecological knowledge.
Thank you to all of our champions for your passion, innovation, and leadership. Your work is shaping a more sustainable SCU, and a better future for all.
We’ll dive deeper into each Sustainability Champion’s accomplishments in upcoming posts.
The Center for Sustainability was proud to recognize our 2024-2025 Sustainability Champions at this year's at this year’s Sustainability Celebration. These awards celebrate Student, Faculty, Staff, and SCU community members, nominated by their peers for their efforts to transform our campus this academic year by advancing sustainability through Engagement, Academics, Operations, or Administration. In addition, we present the Forge Garden Award and the Innovation Award to individuals or groups who have made special contributions
Our Sustainability Champions demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing strategic goals outlined in the Leading Through Laudato Si’ Action Plan, inspiring our campus community to care for our common home in meaningful and innovative ways.
Student Champion
Wanyu “Mary” Xiang, ’25 – Sustainable Food Systems Minor
As a dedicated Basic Needs Committee member, Mary launched a transformative food recovery program that reduces waste and increases student access to nutritious meals.
Innovation Champions
JST–SCU Laudato Si’ Action Platform Committee – Kathryn Barush, Mark Blancke, Fabio Colorado, Jenny Girard Malley, Tomi Korsa, Monica Marcelli-Chu, Mary McGann, John Meyers, Stephen Szolosi
This team pioneered a 7-year journey toward integral ecology through education, engagement, and institutional change—all rooted in Jesuit values and a commitment to a more just and sustainable world, inspiring a culture of sustainability rooted in faith and action.
Staff Champion
Edward Grace – Director of Housing Building Operations & Facilities
Eddie drives sustainability across the student residential experience—from orientation materials to Zero Waste Move Out—supporting composting, energy challenges, and donation programs.
Community Champions
Jeff & Tina Bird
Their visionary support made the Bird Solar Project possible—doubling SCU’s solar capacity and catalyzing further climate action through energy reinvestment and inspired philanthropy.
Faculty Champion
Chris Bacon – Professor & Chair, Environmental Studies and Sciences
Chris leads community-driven research supporting small farmers in Central America and San Jose, while mentoring students and advancing food and housing security through the SCU Basic Needs Survey and the Environmental Justice and the Common Good Initiative.
Garden Champion
Native Plant Garden Project – Lynn Hillberg, Amy Lueck, Maia Dedrick, Lee Panich, Isabella Gomez
This project promotes land stewardship, sustainable agriculture, and indigenous growing practices—educating the public and connecting Ohlone Youth Campers with traditional ecological knowledge.
Thank you to all of our champions for your passion, innovation, and leadership. Your work is shaping a more sustainable SCU, and a better future for all.
We’ll dive deeper into each Sustainability Champion’s accomplishments in upcoming posts.