College officials urging public to show support through voting in national competition

Gateway Technical College is one of 20 colleges from across the United States named as a finalist for an award recognizing leadership and innovation in the area of environmentalism and sustainability in higher education.

In addition to the Climate Leadership Award, Gateway is also competing against the other 19 college finalists in a national video voting competition – and is urging its communities and partners to support the college through the national online voting campaign April 1 through April 15.

The 2014 Climate Leadership Award is issued by Second Nature, a national nonprofit that works to create a healthy, just and sustainable society by transforming higher education. The awards, now in the fifth year, are an annual, national competition for colleges and universities that are signatories of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

“The impacts of climate change are being felt at all levels and among all people across the United States and the world, and our colleges and universities are clearly at the forefront of identifying solutions, and providing the next generation of responsible and pioneering leaders,” said David Hales, president of Second Nature. “This year we are seeing the most innovative and exciting projects yet, and we are thrilled to be able to recognize these institutions and their work.”

There are three components happening concurrently due to Gateway being a finalist:

The vote for the leadership award. Second Nature board members will vote on the Climate Leadership Awards, announcing winners in early May. Winners will be highlighted in several different national forums on sustainability in education and practice, and will be honored at the group’s national convention in Fall 2014.

The public national video vote. Gateway has produced a video highlighting the college’s sustainable and green practices which is part of a national contest through Planet Forward, which has partnered with Second Nature on the event. Gateway is competing against the other 19 colleges on a national vote which opens April 1 and runs through April 15. Last year’s national effort garnered 50,000 votes for this part of the competition.

• Individuals can vote for a video once a day, every day, April 1 through April 15. That can be found at: gtc.edu/green-video-vote

Gateway recognized nationally through online publications. Gateway will be featured in a national Second Nature blog, highlighting its sustainable and green efforts. The college’s story is slated to be published online April 8 at http://presidentsclimatecommitment.org/signatories/spotlight.

Gateway is one of only five technical colleges nationwide to be a finalist for this award, and the only college in Wisconsin.

“We are proud to be a finalist for this national award,” says Stephanie Sklba, Gateway vice president, Community and Government Relations. “We at Gateway have worked to not only reduce our carbon footprint through waste and energy reduction, but we also have provided our students with real-world training which will help them successfully enter green careers.”

Sklba oversees Gateway’s sustainable and green policy efforts.

“We’ve also incorporated components of sustainability into our curriculum, and have collaborated with our business partners to ensure the equipment and skill sets developed is what our students need when they graduate.”

For more information, please contact Stephanie Sklba at (262) 564-2662.