UF Champions for Change Awards celebrate achievements in sustainability, health and wellness
UF’s Office of Sustainability and the Healthy Gators Coalition recognized nine individuals and groups during the annual Champions for Change Awards ceremony as part of Campus Earth Week earlier this month.
The awards are presented annually to those in the university community who have made significant contributions in the areas of sustainability and health during their time at UF. Nominations are judged based on the uniqueness of the achievement, the level of effort required, the commitment to sustaining the achievement, and the significance for personal growth or the impact of the achievement on the UF community.
This year’s Champions for Change winners in the category of health and well-being were UF/IFAS Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in Palm Beach County; Cecilia Luna, a communications specialist in UF’s Student Health Care Center; Christine Winget, associate director of Housing in the Learning and Development Office; Liva LaMongtagne, SMART Couples Program instructor in UF/IFAS Family, Youth and Community Sciences; and Megan Engel, a graduate student in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department.
The winners in the category of sustainability were Sheila Noel, a maintenance specialist for the J. Wayne Reitz Union; the LiveGreen app development team; Sam Jenkins, a political science undergraduate student and Student Government senator; Assembly for Action; and Gator Dining Food Service.
Each year, the nomination period is open for a month prior to the Office of Sustainability’s annual Campus Earth Week events, which typically take place in early April. This year, the Champions for Change program received 25 nominations highlighting personal and professional achievements and contributions from faculty, staff, students and organizations at UF.
“This year’s nomination pool was highly competitive and really exemplified the breadth of work being done at UF to advance sustainability as well as health and wellness,” said Matt Williams, director of the Office of Sustainability. “The Champions for Change Awards program is a fantastic platform for us to recognize and celebrate the efforts of these outstanding individuals and organizations.”
For more information about the Champions for Change Awards program or to read about each of this year’s winners, visit http://sustainable.ufl.edu/news-events/champions-for-change-awards/.
Story submitted by Allison Vitt of the Office of Sustainability