Celebrate Thanksgiving by sharing gratitude for natural world

3:30 p.m., Nov. 16, 2015--As a way of observing the Thanksgiving holiday, the DENIN Ambassadors will be asking fellow students and other members of the University of Delaware community, “What on Earth are you thankful for?” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at a kiosk in the Trabant University Center. 

The DENIN Ambassadors are the official student representatives of the Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN), an interdisciplinary environmental research and education institute with approximately 180 faculty affiliates at the University of Delaware.

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All who pass through Trabant on Wednesday are encouraged to visit the “What on Earth are you thankful for?” kiosk and jot down a response on a marker-board. The ambassadors will be taking photos of individuals holding up the board with their personal responses to the question for a photo campaign to be uploaded to the DENIN Facebook page and Twitter account.

“Autumn is the time of year when many students typically reflect on their thankfulness for family and friends, among other things,” said Marisa Andreazza, co-chair of the DENIN Ambassadors. “However, we want to challenge students to think a step further, commenting on what they particularly value in the natural world.”

According to Andreazza, replies to this question last year were extremely diverse, but it was apparent that all students who participated realized that they were very grateful to the Earth for something. 

As a way of showing their gratitude to those who participate in the activity, the ambassadors are offering a raffle for a VISA gift card and a gift certificate from Newark Deli and Bagel to people who stop by the kiosk.

“The message that the DENIN Ambassadors hope students will take away from the kiosk is that the Earth and all of its natural features are responsible for many things that individuals love but often overlook,” Andreazza said.

Individuals are encouraged to use the hashtag #EarthThankful on Wednesday to share what on Earth they are thankful for.