UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Sustainable Communities Collaborative (SCC), the Sustainability Institute at Penn State’s experiential scholarship program, recently celebrated the conclusion of the 2023 Spring semester with their biannual Campus and Community Sustainability Expo.
The expo is hosted at the end of both the spring and fall semesters to amplify the work of semester-long student-led projects in collaboration with community partners. Co-hosted by the State College Borough, the event was held in the State College Municipal Building with more than 300 community members in attendance. Participating classes represented nine colleges, with community partners including local governments, non-profits, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through its “Think Outside” program.
“The SCC is such a huge and important part of our town-gown partnership,” said Tom Fountaine, State College Borough Manager. “Over the past 10 years, the State College Borough and surrounding communities have gotten so much out of this.”
In addition to supporting town-gown relationships, SCC projects help build capacity for sustainability within Pennsylvania communities. For example, this spring semester, Assistant Professor Nelson Dzade’s class explored solar options for a variety of partners, including a public library, a summer youth camp, an agricultural fair, a retirement community, and a state park.
William Kocher, DCNR park manager, was impressed with the quality of student work: “I expected maybe one example and analysis, but received three comprehensive studies instead!”
While the state park considers the implementation of solar energy solutions, other projects tweaked the imagination. Assistant Professor in Landscape Architecture Alec Spangler explored the design of an imaginary urban infill lot, based on a State College location, with his freshmen students.
“These kinds of projects generate ideas that may be helpful in future projects, or in other locations and communities,” says Ilona Ballreich, program manager of the SCC with the Sustainability Institute at Penn State.
"DCNR is inspired by the work showcased at the annual Sustainable Communities Collaborative student expo and the energy and innovation the students put forth to finding solutions to the climate crisis," said Justin Royer, executive assistant to the deputy secretary at the PA Department of Conservation of Natural Resources and manager of the Think Outside program. "We know that Pennsylvania is in good hands as the new generation tackles the big questions of our time and we look forward to working along side these emerging leaders."
The Campus and Community Sustainability Expo is organized at the end of each semester to celebrate and showcase student work. Community and faculty interested in participating in partnering for an engaged scholarship project should contact Ilona Ballreich at ixb20@psu.edu.