Photo courtesy of Carley McGovern. Pictured above, students, faculty, and staff enjoy the annual Sustainability Fest.
Sustainability Fest is an annual event put on by Green Life to spread awareness about the environment and available resources to protect it. Different campus clubs and vendors set up tables to give away free goodies, host sustainable activities, and even sell some sustainable products. This year’s Sustainability Fest was hosted on Friday, September 27th on the Rogalski Center Patio.
Paige Magistrelli is a senior marketing major and the President of Green Life. “Green Life’s goal is to raise awareness and inspire action across campus and our local community. Throughout the year, we host multiple events for students, faculty, and staff, including workshops, hiking trips, garden planting, and of course, environmental films.”
Photo courtesy of Carley McGovern. Pictured above, Magistrelli and Green Life members at the Sustainability Fest.
Magistrelli acknowledges that it can be difficult to get green initiatives going, but fun events like Sustainability Fest encourage students and faculty to get involved.
This event is an opportunity for clubs and organizations to look into their practices and see if they can be more sustainable. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) gave away reusable tote bags and the Student Success Center (SSC) hosted a DIY fall stained glass craft.
In addition to these fun giveaways, there were also many students selling items from their own businesses. Rhiannon Luedtke is a senior Art History major and created the business “Coastin’ and Koozin’”. Coastin’ and Koozin’ sells trendy coasters and drink koozies that are completely sustainable.
Photo courtesy of Carley McGovern. Pictured above, Luedtke sells coasters and koozies from her sustainable business.
“Coastin’ and Koozin’ is a business that we have started because of an entrepreneurship and innovation class,” she explains. “All of our materials are from reused plastics, so it’s great for the environment.”
Another SAU student promoting her small business is Brianna Neumiller. Along with partner Taylor Desplinter, Brianna’s business “Campus Canvas” sells a wide variety of handmade art pieces. Art from Campus Canvas can suit anyone’s preferences, especially those from the Quad Cities; many of their paintings are centered around St. Ambrose and downtown Davenport.
Photo courtesy of Carley McGovern. Pictured above, Neumiller and Desplinter sell their custom art from their business Campus Canvas.
Neumiller and Desplinter also began this business through their entrepreneurship and innovation class. “We had to come up with a product to sell that was sustainable. Our tagline is ‘Your interests: Our art. Make your rooms a reflection of you,’” Neumiller says. “Our handmade paintings not only enhance comfort and style but are created with sustainability in mind. Transform your room into any space that speaks to you and supports a more sustainable future.”
Magistrelli hopes that sustainability can continue to stay at the forefront of students’ minds, even after Sustainability Fest. “As the president of Green Life, I enjoy seeing the community getting together and the initiatives we put on, especially the sustainability fest that is happening today.”
Students interested in getting involved with Green Life can email President Paige Magistrelli at magistrellipaigee@sau.edu or follow the Green Life Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/saugreenlife/.
