CARLSBAD, Calif. & DENVER–()–Enviance, Inc. and Environmental Leader today announced that Colby College has been chosen as the “National Champion” of the first-ever March Madness Tournament for Environmental Studies, designed to reward excellence in environmental studies. Based on a collection of photo, essay and video submissions, Colby, a school of 1800 students, was picked by a panel of expert judges in the field of environmental science, beating out 15 other schools across the country, including Duke University, Purdue University and UNC Asheville.
“Colby College is a perfect example as to why we began this tournament and sought to help schools get the recognition they deserve for their environmental studies program”
“We’re honored to receive this award recognizing Colby’s leadership in environmental studies and sustainability—two things we take very seriously here,” said Lori Kletzer, Colby’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. “For four decades, Colby’s environmental studies program, which is one of the oldest in the nation, has been producing leaders in this critical field. This recognition not only honors that long tradition, but also helps us to educate the next generation of environmental professionals.”
Colby’s environmental studies program will receive an award of $5,000, and a member of the department will go on an all-expenses-paid trip to San Diego to attend the Enviance User Conference, April 16-20. While there, he or she will lead a panel titled, “What Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders Need to Know.”
“Colby College is a perfect example as to why we began this tournament and sought to help schools get the recognition they deserve for their environmental studies program,” said Lawrence Goldenhersh, CEO and president of Enviance, and tournament judge. “Colby’s program incorporates all the right courses, strong extra-curricular opportunities, and multiple chances for real-world experience to help prepare its students. While our ‘National Champion’ did not get to cut down the nets, they no doubt will play a vital role in something else that is very important to cut down: greenhouse gas.”
Tournament Methodology
The March Madness Tournament for Environmental Studies was designed to evaluate colleges and universities on their academic and sustainability prowess as it relates to the environment, in a format similar to the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament. Each school initially completed a survey, which was the basis of judging for the “Sustainable 16.”
Those 16 schools were then given the chance to submit essays, photos and videos to the judges, for further consideration to be included in the “Environmental Eight,” the “Final Four,” and ultimately the “National Champion.”
Judges for this year’s tournament include:
- Peter Fox, principal & chairman of The Brattle Group
- Velislava Ivanova, global sustainability practice director at CH2M HILL
- Larry Goldenhersh, CEO & president of Enviance
- Nick Johnson, managing consultant at Trinity Consultants
- Don Cuffel, manager of environmental engineering at Valero/California
Enviance will open submissions for the March Madness 2013 Tournament in late 2012. To stay updated for next year’s March Madness Tournament, please email [email protected] and ask to be added to Enviance’s March Madness mailing list. Also, please visit http://www.enviance.com/march-madness or http://www.environmentalleader.com, and receive real-time updates on Twitter by following @enviance or @ELDaily.
About Enviance
Enviance is the leading provider of Environmental ERP software, with more than 17,000 users in 49 countries. Our comprehensive solutions have been developed, tested and proven by serving the world’s leading corporations and government organizations for over a decade. As the world business community faces increasing sustainability challenges, Enviance Environmental ERP solutions enable organizations to measure, manage, report environmental performance and compliance needs. The Enviance system leverages cloud computing technology to deliver its Environmental ERP platform online in real-time—anytime, anywhere and enterprise-wide. Founded in 1999, privately held Enviance is based in Carlsbad, California. For additional information, visit http://www.enviance.com.