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Earth Week Culminates in Impactful Events

Campus conference helps community understand climate change effects and solutions

On the heels of the April 6 announcement that Norfolk again has the highest rate of sea level rise on the East Coast, Òùµ´ÉÙ¸¾ took a leadership role in raising awareness of Coastal Virginia’s environmental issues. On Friday, April 21, VWU, in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach and The Gunn Group, hosted “Generations Uniting to Address Climate Change,” a panel discussion to help prepare our community for our changing environment.

The distinguished panel included , Chief of Staff, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic; , student activist and author of  , Meteorologist; Marcus Smaltz, VWU senior who conducted research on extreme heat in Virginia Beach; and , Executive Director of Wetlands Watch. Lee Gunn, VADM (RET) USN, moderated the discussion, which was .

“You are vital players in a drama that’s unfolding before us, in which a couple of acts have already been performed,” Gunn told students in attendance. “It's dreadfully important that in the final act we actually make the changes, bring about the technologies, develop the approaches and the policies necessary, to control the environment in a way that allows this wonderful green planet—this wonderful blue planet—on which we live to continue to sustain the kind of lives that we have all enjoyed."

Panel discussion partners also included the Robert Nusbaum Center at VWU and the Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics and Natural Science.

A Green Fair, held in Watts lobby before and after the panel discussion, provided the opportunity for attendees to interact with staff from local environmental organizations, such as the Norfolk Botanical Garden, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Sierra Club, Elizabeth River Project, Lynnhaven River Now, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Earlier in the day, the University celebrated its recent honor from the Arbor Day Foundation. VWU is one of only 411 campuses across the nation to receive a 2022 Tree Campus Higher Education recognition from the foundation. The ceremony included the Dedication of the First Five Pioneers Tree in honor of members of VWU’s first five graduating classes.

"I love that we are planting a tree to celebrate these First Five Pioneers and our honor from the Arbor Foundation as a Tree Campus,” said Scott D. Miller, President of VWU, in his opening remarks. “Both groups understand that we start this good work knowing that we won’t see its end. That we plant trees based on faith, making a commitment to the land and to the next generations of Marlins.”

Members of those first five classes attended the ceremony, including Tom Brettt ’71 and Suzy Brett ’72 who spoke art the event. The Bretts served as co-chairs of the First Five Class Reunion Planning Committee. Abby Mahoney ’22, student CEO of the Marlin Business Conference, and Dr. Miller delivered an Arbor Day Proclamation. A Tree Campus Flag was then presented by Kendall Topping of the Department of Forestry; Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and VWU’s Director of Sustainability; and Dr. Miller. The ceremony concluded with a tree planting by Dr. Miller, Dr. Malcolm, Mr. Brett, Mrs. Brett, and Ms. Mahoney.

Following the Tree Campus Ceremony was a compelling presentation on sustainability by author and journalist Greg Melville. Melville talked about his book “Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, One Fry-Oil-Powered Car, and a Cross-Country Search for a Greener Future” and reviewed ways that each of us can do our part to protect the environment. An environmental and outdoor journalist, Melville has written for Outside, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Health, Slate and the Boston Globe Magazine. 

“I'm a huge fan of Virginia Wesleyan's commitment to sustainability,” Melville said, “and I'm excited that I could contribute to the conversation on campus.”

Visitors to these Earth Week campus events had a chance to view the exhibit “Eco-Conscious Love,” on display outside the entrance to the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. The exhibit was created to facilitate conversation about reducing, reusing and rethinking consumption. Made from reclaimed wood, chicken wire, repurposed plastic lids and non-recyclable pieces, and painted to represent the beauty of our coastal location, the exhibit also functions as a recycling bin.

“Eco-Conscious LOVE” was created by local artist Renée Calway with support from artists Michael Corcoran, Isabella Millen and Sonya Sunnydayz. Community organizations that contributed to its creation include Home Depot, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, Lynnhaven River Now, The DoArtNetwork, The VIBE Creative District, Virginia Beach Oceanfront Public Library and Virginia Tourism Corporation. 

View the about how VWU students spent Earth Day.

Learn more about Earth Week 2023 and Sustainability at VWU.