Got an idea on how to make Mohawk a more sustainable college?
Mohawk College is inviting students to share their ideas on how to make Mohawk more sustainable. The student with the best idea will win $500 and see their idea come to life.
Integrated Animation student Erica Eldridge was last year’s Sustainable Initiatives Fund Idea Bank winner. Erica suggested adding a rainwater harvesting system to the college’s community garden at the Fennell Campus. The system was installed last summer.
“It’s super cool that the Rainwater Harvesting System is actually making a difference. It’s really fulfilling its purpose and I’m really proud of it. It really encourages further involvement in college ventures and sustainability, and I think it’s going to be a real push to get students involved.”
Last year’s campaign saw nearly 100 sustainable ideas published to the Idea Bank website. A team of 20 student volunteers had more than 1,500 conversations with students on campus, generating ideas around topics like waste management, health and wellness, renewable energy, student participation, and improved outdoor spaces.
Check out the winning projects implemented on Mohawk’s campuses as a result of last year's campaign:
The contest is open to all Mohawk students. Ideas can be submitted to sif.mohawkcollege.ca between March 7 and March 18. The winning idea receives $500. Two runner-up ideas will also receive a prize of $250 each. You can also submit your idea at the Mohawk Minute booth at the Fennell Campus, or in person at one of the outreach booths.
The Idea Bank campaign is a partnership between the Sustainability Office and the Mohawk Student’s Association, and is made possible by the Sustainability Intiatives Fund. The Sustainability Initiatives Fund (SIF) invests $50,000 each year to implement student ideas that will make Mohawk College a more environmentally friendly place to learn, work and play.
Mohawk College educates and serves more than 29,500 full-time, part-time, apprenticeship and international students at three main campuses in Hamilton, Ontario and learning hubs across Hamilton through City School by Mohawk, and at the College’s Centre for Aviation Technology at the Hamilton International Airport. Mohawk is among the top five colleges for applied research in Canada. It has been named one of Canada’s greenest employers seven years in a row, holds a GOLD STARS rating from AASHE for sustainability achievements and is home to the country’s largest and first institutional building to receive dual certification for Zero Carbon Building Framework design and performance for The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation. More than 135,000 people have graduated from Mohawk since it was founded.