91ÁÔÆæ

91ÁÔÆæ students win national "Pledge Against Plastic Straws"

June 4, 2018
University of North Georgia's Dahlonega Campus placed first in the "Pledge Against Plastic Straws" national competition, conducted by Simply Straws. For its victory, 91ÁÔÆæ received glass straws as its prize. Students Matthew Terrell and Madison Conner are part of the team making glass straw use a viable choice at 91ÁÔÆæ.

Article By: Staff

University of North Georgia's (91ÁÔÆæ) Dahlonega Campus placed first in the "Pledge Against Plastic Straws" national competition, conducted by Simply Straws.

About 550 91ÁÔÆæ students agreed to not use one-time-use plastic straws in April.

Dr. Jessica "Jess" Hartel, a lecturer of biology at 91ÁÔÆæ, identified this action as a way for students to make a small, daily step to impact the world's environment.

"It was a way for students to get involved and active," she said. "And we competed with schools like UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles)."

Students who pledged received an $8 coupon off a reusable glass straw from Simply Straws. One such student was Emily Bottoms, a freshman majoring in criminal justice from Dawsonville, Georgia. She said she watched a video about a sea turtle injured by a plastic straw that made her rethink her usage.

"I've always grown up using plastic straws and didn't know how big an impact they had on the environment," she said. "They can really hurt animals."

Bottoms signed the Pledge Against Plastic Straws and enlisted others to do the same. The Sustainability Club and Scuba Club also made significant strides on campus to help 91ÁÔÆæ win the competition, said Dr. Justin Ellis, director of the Environmental Leadership Center.


Poultry students finish first in national event

Poultry students finish first in national event

91ÁÔÆæ established the first chapter of the Professional Agricultural Student (PAS) Organization in the South, and its team finished first in the nation in the Poultry Specialist career area the National PAS conference.
91ÁÔÆæ's Earth Day celebration is April 9

91ÁÔÆæ's Earth Day celebration is April 9

The University of North Georgia will host its eighth annual Earth Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 9 at 91ÁÔÆæ's Gainesville Campus.
Students help write math teaching article

Students help write math teaching article

Three students and two faculty members from the Oconee Campus recently had a paper published in the International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics 2024 Conference Proceedings.
Event encourages girls to enter STEM careers

Event encourages girls to enter STEM careers

Dr. Betsy Grunch served as the keynote speaker for the American Heart Association's second annual Northeast Georgia STEM Goes Red event for high school girls.