MORRISVILLE, NY—Morrisville State College has been honored for its sustainability efforts by Sustainable Upstate Network (SUN).
In its third year, the SUN Awards recognize excellence in sustainable efforts throughout Central New York. MSC received its award in the education category. Recognized in the corporate category was Tessy Plastics, a business run by Roland Beck, a 1983 graduate of the college’s plastics technology program, now part of the mechanical engineering program.
The SUN Awards, created and sponsored by BizEvents with support by the Business Journal Network, honors those who demonstrate resource conservation and sustainability in their business or in the services they provide. Winners are selected by a committee of companies who comprise the SUN group.
“Some of the things we looked at in the selection process were the programs Morrisville is offering along the lines of sustainability, its green efforts and how the college is engaging students in these programs as well as sustainability efforts in its facilities,” said Joyl Clance, director of BizEvents.
MSC has long been a beacon for its sustainability efforts.
“The idea of learning through experience, of building a community and of achieving a sustainable future, permeates our campus and our programs,” said MSC President David Rogers.
“Anyone who thinks only of cows, cars and horses is missing the enormous power and promising advances yielded by methane biodigesters, biodiesel and power pellet gasification,” he explained.
“Above our dairy complex, a wind turbine generates power. In fields on our campus and in the region, we and our partners are growing, harvesting and researching valuable fuel and industrial crops from sunflower seeds and hazelnuts to willow and hemp. We are teaching students and helping people install micro hydro turbines and solar PV arrays to capture the power of water and sun.”
MSC’s sustainable initiatives also include car sharing and growing its own produce for its dining halls, and more complex efforts like heating student housing with gasifier technology and powering tractors at the Equine Rehabilitation Center with biodiesel.
MSC offers an associate degree in renewable energy technology and bachelor’s degrees in renewable energy and renewable resources technology. A Renewable Energy Training Center (RETC) provides technical short courses that help people develop marketable skills in renewable energy fields. As a result, this alliance of employers, training providers, economic development partners, and K-12 schools is addressing the long- and short-term needs of New York State’s renewable energy sector.
Morrisville State College’s curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2017 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2017 Best Colleges rankings.