UW-Green Bay alumnus David Freedman, students, faculty and staff honored at the Earth Caretaker Awards
Celebrating the university’s continued commitment to sustainability and honoring the community’s current and future problem-solvers, a number of students, faculty and staff were honored on Wednesday, April 19 at the Earth Caretaker Awards.
Highlighting the event was the presentation of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Environmental Management and Business Institute (EMBI)‘s 13th annual Earth Caretaker Award to UW-Green Bay alumnus David L. Freedman. David’s academic journey started at UW-Green Bay in 1973, when he made the move fromhis hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts to Green Bay to join many other undergraduates from across the U.S. who shared a deep concern for the fate of the planet. David went on to earn a B.S. degree in Science and Environmental Change in 1978. A comprehensive list of accomplishments can be found in this post.
At Wednesday’s event, he spoke about how UW-Green Bay offered the ‘most innovative curriculum,’ with regard to the environment. Freedman shared that all of his classes fueled his desire to impact positive change in the environment. In his literature classes he learned about Aldo Leopold, considered by many to be the ‘father of wildlife ecology.’ A writing class focused on writing environmental policy. His statistics class taught him research methods that he still uses to this day. Freedman spoke about the research he was able to be inv
olved in – as an undergrad – on local farms that was years ahead of its time. His time here was truly unique. He is now dedicated to educating the next generation of scientists and engineers who will have impact on the environment as Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science at Clemson University.
In addition to the staff and faculty, students from all four campuses were honored for their commitment to sustainability. In fact, the university’s new residential compost program, spearheaded by students, has saved more than 600 pounds of food waste from landfills.
Interested in the events surrounding sustainability that are scheduled through April? Learn more about the Electronics Recycling Day, the Compost Giveaway, Fight for the Fox River Cleanup and the Green Bay Conservation Roundtable at uwgb.edu/earth.
