Students with ideas for making UD more sustainable invited to information sessions

1:08 p.m., March 7, 2016--The Blue Hen Economics Club will hold four information sessions for University of Delaware students interested in participating in its second annual UD Environmental Case Competition.

The information sessions will take place at 7 p.m. on March 9 in 229 Purnell Hall, March 10 in 116 Purnell Hall, March 16 in 204 Gore Hall and March 17 in 116 Purnell Hall.

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The UD Environmental Case Competition allows students to present their ideas for making the campus more sustainable. Individuals or teams of students research the issue and make the case for a potential solution to the problem.

The competition will take place in two stages: written proposals, followed by oral presentations. Written proposals will be due on Thursday, March 24. Successful teams will then be invited to develop an oral presentation to be delivered before a panel of judges during the last week of April. The competition finals will be open to the public.

According to Cory Cutsail, a senior mathematics and economics major who organized the first competition last year, the winners of this year’s contest will have an excellent chance of having their idea implemented.

“Since last year’s competition, the University has hired a sustainability manager, Michelle Bennett,” Cutsail said. “She has worked with the Sustainability Task Force on campus to secure a $10,000 implementation grant from the task force’s Green Grants Committee to put toward making the winning idea a reality.”

In addition, monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in the competition, Cutsail said. The first place winner will receive $500, and the second and third place winners will take home $300 and $200, respectively, in the form of gift cards.

The Blue Hen Economics Club is the primary sponsor of the event, with additional support from the University of Delaware Consulting Club, a registered student organization for students interested in careers in consulting of any type, and the Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN).

Cutsail emphasizes that the competition is open to students of any major or interest.

“Case competitions have a reputation for being business-oriented,” he said. “But we want to make clear that we welcome students from any department or major to participate in this event.”

For more information about the competition, contact Cutsail at ccutsale@udel.edu or visit the competition webpage. 

Article by Beth Chajes