Last modified: Wednesday, April 17, 2002
First Kelley Green Awards to be given on Earth Day at IU
Students recognize environmentally friendly businesses in Indiana
Students in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business are thinking green these days, and it has less to do with money than people might think.
The Kelley School has created a new way to recognize businesses with environmentally friendly programs. On Earth Day (April 22), three companies doing business in Indiana will be presented with the school's first Kelley Green Awards.
The Kelley Green Awards are unique in that winners are chosen on the basis of nominations by IU students. Award recipients are selected from the pool of nominations by the Environmental Policy Committee of the Kelley School. Students who nominated the winning firms will summarize their reasons at the school's Earth Day program.
Being recognized will be Cummins Inc., of Columbus, Ind.; Bristol-Meyers Squibb, which has operations in Evansville and Mount Vernon; and Buehler Foods of Jasper. The awards will be presented at 7 p.m. in Room 102 of the Kelley School of Business. John W. Hill, the school's associate dean for research and operations, will present the awards to the companies' executives.
"The award encourages students to think about companies that exhibit environmental leadership," said Thomas P. Lyon, chair of the Environmental Policy Committee and IU professor of business economics and public policy. "It recognizes companies for the actions they've taken to improve the environment as a part of their business practices, which is something that often goes unnoticed. Also, it lets the public know that this is something the Kelley School of Business cares about as part of its ongoing educational mission."
Lyon added, "We want to encourage companies like these for taking positive steps."
Representing the companies will be Christine Vujovich, vice president of environmental policy and product strategy, Cummins Inc.; Paul Wagner, director of environmental health and safety, Bristol-Myers Squibb; and Dave Buehler, chairman, Buehler Foods. Students whose nominations were selected are Amanda Verner, a senior from Hendersonville, N.C.; Scott Doran, a freshman from Troy, Ohio; and Lisa Hulsman, a junior from Jasper, Ind. Each student will receive a $200 grant and a certificate.
In addition to the Kelley Green Awards, 10 IU students will present environmentally friendly, green ideas to the audience, which will vote to determine the best idea. All student participants receive a cash award and a certificate for their efforts. More than 40 students submitted ideas.
The Kelley School hopes the nominated companies will set an example for other businesses in the state. The ceremony is planned as an annual event, and the program hopes to get students and businesses thinking more about environmental issues in a creative and productive manner.
